Ayesha Takia Azmi (née Takia; born 10 April 1986), is an Indian actress and former model who worked predominantly in Hindi films. Takia made her debut in 2004 with the action thriller Taarzan: The Wonder Car for which she won the Filmfare Best Debut Award and IIFA Award Star Debut of the Year Female. She then subsequently appeared in several successful films including Socha Na Tha (2005), Salaam-E-Ishq (2007), Wanted (2009), and Paathshaala (2010). She is the recipient of the Bengal Film Journalists' Association awards and Screen Awards.
Takia was first recognized as a model when she performed in Falguni Pathak's music video Meri Chunar Udd Udd Jaye at the age of fourteen in 2000. Since then, she had appeared in music videos, television commercials, fashion shows, and on magazine covers. Takia made her debut in South Indian cinema in the Telugu-language action heist Super (2005), for which she won the Screen Award for Best Actress (Critics). She subsequently appeared in financially unsuccessful films including Shaadi Se Pehle (2006), Cash (2007), De Taali (2008) and 8 x 10 Tasveer (2009). The 2006 drama Dor, marked a turning point in her career winning her several awards nomination including Screen Award for Best Actress (Critics), Zee Cine Award – Critics' Choice Best Actress, Bengal Film Journalists' Association - Best Actress Award and Stardust Best Supporting Actress Award.
In addition to acting, Takia supports wildlife protection, and has been featured as a talent judge on the musical-reality show Sur Kshetra. She is married to Farhan Azmi, with whom she has a son born in 2013.
Early life and background
Takia was born in Bombay on 10 April 1986, to Nishit Takia, a Gujarati Hindu, and Faridah Takia, a Maharashtrian and half- Caucasian British. She has a younger sister Natasha. She studied at St Anthony's Girls High School, Chembur.
Career :
Modelling career and debut (2000-2005)
Takia at an event in 2006
Before starting her career as an actor, Takia appeared in several commercials. She started her career as a model when she was thirteen, appearing in the I am a Complan Boy! I'm a Complan Girl! campaign along with Shahid Kapoor. Her first public appearance was in the music video for Falguni Pathak's song Meri Chunar Udd Udd Jaye. Later, she appeared in the music video Shake It Daddy, a remix of song Nahin Nahin Abhi Nahin along with actor Keith Sequeira. Both the songs were directed by Vinay Sapru and Radhika Rao, which brought her to the attention of Bollywood, and a few films offer followed.
In 2004, Takia played her first leading role as Priya Kapoor in Abbas–Mustan's supernatural action thriller film Taarzan: The Wonder Car alongside debutante Vatsal Sheth. Loosely based on comedy drama Christine (1983), the film turned out to be financially unsuccessful. However, she has been praised for her glamorous appearance in the film. Takia's portrayal earned her Filmfare Best Female Debut Award (2005) and IIFA Award for Star Debut of the Year – Female (2005). Takia next starred alongside Shahid Kapoor in the multi-starrer romantic comedy Dil Maange More!!! (2004). Takia's role as a dominant, combative girl named Shagun earned her two nominations viz. Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Female and Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut. The film became unsuccessful at the box office, however proving to be a breakthrough as it boosted the careers of Takia and Kapoor.
In 2004, Takia starred in three films. Her first release of the year was writer-director Imtiaz Ali's romantic comedy Socha Na Tha. Besides being Imtiaz Ali's first film as a director, Socha Na Tha also marked Abhay Deol's acting debut. Upon release it received positive reviews from critics: Patcy N for Rediff.com wrote, "Ayesha Takia is a sweet, energetic actress, but her role does not require too much acting skill". However, the movie was an average grosser at the box-office and earned around ₹3.43 crore (US$430,000) worldwide. Takia next co-starred David Dhawan's multi-starrer comedy Shaadi No. 1, opposite Fardeen Khan. The film which illustrates the story of three couples featured an ensemble cast (Sanjay Dutt, Fardeen Khan, Zayed Khan, Sharman Joshi, Esha Deol, and Soha Ali Khan). The film received a positive response from critics, and also did well at the box office. Made on a budget of ₹5 crore (US$630,000), it earned around ₹12 crore (US$1.5 million) worldwide. She then appeared in Sujoy Ghosh's comedy-drama Home Delivery, which was also her last release of 2004. The film received negative reviews, with criticism aimed at the unoriginal plot and humor, and underperformed at the box office. Nonetheless, Takia was praised for her role. The Hindu wrote, "In the film, role played by Ayesha Takia, is the other attraction of the storyline".
In 2005, Takia made her debut in South Indian cinema in the Telugu-language action heist Super alongside Nagarjuna Akkineni. The film was a financial success but received mixed responses by the critics. B. Anuradha for Rediff.com wrote, "Ayesha debuts in Telugu films with a glamorous role". Indiaglitz wrote, "Ayesha is cool and chic. Her angles and curves provide all the glamour and keep you engrossed". Her performance as a doctor named Siri Valli earned her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu nomination at 53rd Filmfare Awards South. The film was also later dubbed and released in Hindi as Robbery.
