I FELT MY TALENT WAS NOT EXPLORED FULLY
A popular face in ’90s Bollywood, Ayesha Jhulka tells us why she stepped away from the spotlight
The year was 1991. The film was Kurbaan. And the newcomer paired opposite actor Salman Khan won everyone with her girlnext-door charm. Thus, began Ayesha Jhulka’s rise to stardom, with hits such as Khiladi and Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikandar (both 1992) cementing her position in Bollywood. However, 1999 onwards, the number of films she did started to dwindle. And the last fullfledged project she starred in was Ada... A Way of Life in 2010.Where did she go?
“I’ve been busy with a lot of things. I worked for animal welfare, and was behind the scenes, doing my bit. I joined my husband’s (construction tycoon Sameer Vashi) business. I travelled a lot, something I couldn’t do as an actor. I’d only travel with the film unit. I wasn’t even getting time with my parents,” Jhulka tells us.
HOW IT ALL STARTED A student of fashion design at National Institute of
Fashion Technology, Jhulka’s foray into acting was purely coincidental. “I just loved watching films and the song and dance sequences. We were in Delhi, and never thought there could be an opportunity like this, but it just happened by fluke,” recalls the 49-yearold, and adds: “When I did my first film, I didn’t know if I’d get any more (work). Then one after the other came, I don’t remember planning anything. I was 16.”
Over the next few years, with as many as five releases in a single year, things got hectic for Jhulka. She calls the busiest phase of her career a “different high”. But admits doing three-four shifts in a day took a toll on her. “We were working so hard, there was no time to even enjoy what you were doing,” she rues.
FADING AWAY FROM THE LIMELIGHT
The actor asserts that she consciously chose to cut down on work after realising she couldn’t do the “typical stuff” anymore. “When you’re at that age, you get similar roles — running around trees and love angles. Tab milte nahin the performance-oriented roles, only the senior artistes would get the mature roles,” notes Jhulka.
Content with her call to step away from the spotlight, she shares, “I felt my talent as an actor was not explored fully. I consciously cut down on films after my biggest hit, Dalaal (1993). I’m glad I did, otherwise I’d have been doing the same stuff.”
COMEBACK PLANS
Does she miss being in the limelight? Jhulka replies she misses the arc lights instead. “I may not miss being in the limelight as much, but I definitely miss working in films because that has always been my first love. I’ve always loved being in front of the camera, on set. I’m passionate about doing good work. Luckily, now a lot of good projects are coming my way, I’m considering web shows. I’m an ardent fan,” she signs off.
I consciously cut down on films after my biggest hit, Dalaal (1993), else I’d have been doing the same stuff. AYESHA JHULKA, Actor