Mumbai, October 01: She is back after a “deliberate” hiatus of two years. One look at Ayesha Takia, who was in the city, looking chirpy as ever, and you can tell that marriage seems to have done much good to her. “Oh yes,” comes the instant reply. “I am happily married and I’m enjoying every bit of it.
In fact, I took this break of two years to see and enjoy the world outside films, to know things outside this glamorous industry. I have been working since I was a kid and have never known life outside the entertainment business. After I got married, I wanted to see the other side of life and I must tell you, it is so beautiful, far away from the madness…”
But didn’t she find her calling in this madness? “Yes, I did and I am happy to be an actor. By madness, I meant the shor sharaba, the tight schedules, non-stop shooting and constantly being in front of the cameras. I was away from all this for a while to explore new things – in fact, to explore life,” Ayesha says.
With new faces cropping up on the big screen with every film made in Bollywood, did she not have any apprehensions about taking a break? “No, I wanted the break and I took it.” But the industry does change its attitude towards an actress once she is married… “I know it does, but I don’t really care. If I was written off and was not offered any work, I wouldn’t care because I have lots of other things to do.”
Making her comeback now with Nagesh Kukunoor’s next, Ayesha is all excited to prove her mettle yet again. “It feels nice to be working with Nagesh again. I am indebted to him for “Dor”. When I was offered the film, I had my doubts about playing a demure village widow, without any makeup at all. It was Nagesh who believed in me and brought out the best in me. I hope with “Mod”, I make him more proud. This character is so different but Nagesh was sure he wanted only me to play it,” she says.
Nagesh may be a taskmaster, but Ayesha says she understands him well enough by now. “I understand his style of working, his sensibilities and I know what makes him happy and what ticks him off. He is a realistic filmmaker with his own touch of fancy. I remember I walked to the sets with my lip gloss on and I had to do a scene where I was in my room. When the cameras started rolling, Nagesh walked towards me and said, ‘Would you be wearing lip gloss and sitting at home? Take it off right now.’ You see, this is his working style. But work apart, Nagesh is my Rakhi brother.”
When did that happen? “It was after we finished filming for “Dor”. Over dinner, the conversation veered to the relationship between a brother and a sister. I don’t have a brother. Nagesh has a sister, but she stays abroad and he does not get to see her often. All of a sudden, he asked me, ‘Why don’t you tie me Rakhi?’ Ever since, I’ve been doing so,” says Ayesha.
–Agencies