Ayesha Takia Azmi (néeTakia; born 10 April 1986) is an Indian former actress who worked predominantly inHindi films. She began her career working in advertisements and music videos, and made her film debut in 2004 with the action thrillerTaarzan: The Wonder Car, which won her theFilmfare Award for Best Female Debut.
Takia subsequently played the leading lady in such commercially successful films asSuper (2005),Socha Na Tha (2005) andWanted (2009), which is her highest grossing release. She also received praise for playing the lead role in the dramaDor (2006), which won her theScreen Award for Best Actress – Critics. This was followed by a series of poorly received films includingSalaam-e-Ishq (2007),Kya Love Story Hai (2007),No Smoking (2007) andPaathshaala (2010). Following her appearance inMod (2011), she quit acting.
In her personal life, Takia supports wildlife protection, and has participated in social initiatives and animal welfare causes. She has been featured as a talent anchor on the musical-reality showSur Kshetra (2012). She is married to Farhan Azmi, with whom she has a son born in 2013.
Takia was born in Mumbai on 10 April 1986,[2] and was brought up in a mixed cultural environment, as her father is ofGujarati descent and her mother is ofAnglo-Indian descent.[3] Takia's father, Nishit Takia, is a restaurateur, and her mother, Faridah Takia, has mixed British and Marathi ancestry. She has a younger sister Natasha.[4] She studied at St Anthony's Girls High School,Chembur.[5]
Before beginning her career in film, Takia appeared in commercials.[6] She started her career as a model when she was fifteen, appearing in theI am a Complan Boy! I'm a Complan Girl! campaign along withShahid Kapoor.[7][8][9] Her first public appearance was in the music video forFalguni Pathak's song "Meri Chunar Udd Udd Jaye".[6][10] Later, she appeared in the music video of "Shake It Daddy", a remix of the song "Nahin Nahin Abhi Nahin" along with actorKeith Sequeira.[11] Both the songs were directed by Vinay Sapru andRadhika Rao, which brought her to the attention of Bollywood, leading to film offers.[6]
In 2005, Takia starred in three films. Her first release of the year was writer-directorImtiaz Ali's romantic comedySocha Na Tha.[19] Besides being Imtiaz Ali's first film as a director,Socha Na Tha also markedAbhay Deol's acting debut.[20] Upon release it received positive reviews from critics. Patcy N forRediff.com wrote, "Ayesha Takia is a sweet, energetic actress, but her role does not require too much acting skill".[21] Jaspreet Pandohar for theBBC mentioned, "Dashing newcomers look great together on screen and give sweet, fun performances as a young couple who love making things complicated. Ali’s writing and directing also keep the story interesting and enjoyable".[22] However, the movie underperformed at the box-office, with total earnings of₹3.43 crore (US$410,000) across India.[23] Takia next co-starred David Dhawan's multi-starrer comedyShaadi No. 1, oppositeFardeen Khan.[24] The film which illustrates the story of three couples featured anensemble cast (Sanjay Dutt,Fardeen Khan,Zayed Khan,Sharman Joshi,Esha Deol, andSoha Ali Khan).[25] The film received a mixed response from critics, and did not perform well at the box office.[26] Made on a budget of₹5 crore (US$590,000), it earned around₹12 crore (US$1.4 million) worldwide.[27] She then appeared inSujoy Ghosh's comedy-dramaHome Delivery, which was also her last release of 2004.[28][failed verification] The film received negative reviews, with criticism aimed at the unoriginal plot and humor, and underperformed at the box office.[29][30] Nonetheless, Takia was praised for her role.India Today noted that Takia's role was one of the key attractions of the film.[31]
In 2006, Takia appeared inSatish Kaushik's comedyShaadi Se Pehle, loosely influenced by an old Hindi movie,Meri Biwi Ki Shaadi.[37]Rediff gave the film a negative review.[37] The film eventually under-performed at the box office grossing₹16 crore (US$1.9 million) worldwide.[38]Rajeev Masand remarked that, Ayesha Takia had 'precious little to do,' calling it a pity given her natural spontaneity as an actress.[39] She next played the protagonist inNaseeruddin Shah-directed dramaYun Hota Toh Kya Hota (2006), co-starring alongside an ensemble cast.[40] Set in theUnited States, the film follows the story of a group of individuals who become interwind with9/11.[41] Made on a budget of₹6.25 crore (US$740,000), the film earned only₹1.75 crore (US$210,000) crores at the box office, ultimately resulting in a commercial failure.[42] The film received mixed reviews from the critics.[43] Writing forBBC Poonam Joshi noted, "Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota, is perhaps a combination of the subtlety in the storytelling, which refrains from sensationalism, and the pathos of the very subject matter that renders this film an emotional experience".[41]Rediff wrote, "The film is an impressively ambitious one, trying to weave four complex stories running parallel to one another, their paths fatefully criss-crossing only near the very end. But, despite the obvious effort and solid performances, the film severely lacks finesse."[44] Later in the same year, Takia played the part of a Rajasthani Hindu woman inNagesh Kukunoor's smaller-budget dramaDor.[45] The film also featuresGul Panag andShreyas Talpade as the lead actors. An official adaptation of theMalayalam film,Perumazhakkalam (2004), the film tells a story of a widow.[46][47] The film did not perform well commercially, collecting only₹2.7 crore (US$320,000) at the box office.[48]The Times of India said, "Apart from the unusual plot, it is Ayesha Takia who simply blows your breath away". While, Merril Diniz noted, "Ayesha goes for the kill with an award-winning performance. Happy and content one minute, depressed, vengeful or naive the next, she does justice to all the various shades of Meera's spirited yet repressed character."[49] Her performance as a young widowed Rajasthani woman living in a traditional joint family went on to win several accolades, including theZee Cine Award for Best Actress – Critics.[50]
In 2007, Takia appeared in seven films, the first beingNikkhil Advani's romantic dramaSalaam-e-Ishq, oppositeAkshaye Khanna.[51] The film generated mixed to negative reviews from critics,[52][53][54] and its eventual box-office profit was poor.[55]Sukanya Verma opined that she "infuses perky enthusiasm to an otherwise run-of-the-mill part".[53] Takia's next film role was alongsideTusshar Kapoor inKya Love Story Hai.[56] The critical reaction to the film and Takia's portrayal of a young girl was negative.[57][58] Khalid Mohamed ofHindustan Times observed: "The film bombards you with clichés, lackluster performances, and two comedians who seem entirely devoid of talent."[59] Although the film was produced on a budget of₹7.25 crore (US$860,000), it only managed to earn₹4 crore (US$470,000) at the box office, resulting in a commercial failure in India.[60] Co-starring alongsideShahid Kapoor,Ahmed Khan's multi-starercomedycaper filmFool & Final was her next release.[61] The film with an ensemble cast met with mixed critical reviews.[62][63][64]Taran Adarsh fromBollywood Hungama commented, "Ayesha Takia pairs off well with Shahid, but doesn't have much to do really".[65] In the same year, Takia appeared in theaction thriller filmCash. Directed byAnubhav Sinha, the movie generated mostly negative reviews and emerged as a commercial failure.[66] Takia played the lead role inVishal Bhardwaj'sshort filmBlood Brothers.[67] With a run time of 13 minutes, the film depicted the story of a young man who, after finding out that he isHIV positive, allows his life to fall apart. It premiered at theToronto International Film Festival.[68]
Her final release of the year 2007 was thepsychologicalthrillerNo Smoking, oppositeJohn Abraham. Based upon the 1978 short story "Quitters, Inc." byStephen King, it was directed byAnurag Kashyap.[69] The film tells a story of a narcissistic and self-obsessedchain-smoker who gets trapped in the rehabilitation programme of a person who guarantees he will make him quit smoking.[70][71] Takia played the twin role of the protagonist's wife and secretary, Anjali and Annie respectively.[72] Released on 26 October 2007, the film received negative reviews from critics and audiences.[73] Shubhra Gupta forIndian Express commented, "No Smoking is no good. Not because it doesn't have a superb idea. It does. But because it is too bizarre, too outré, too out of it. It stops us from connecting".[74] The film performed poorly at the box office and was declared a 'disaster' byBox Office India.[75] However, the film would later go on to gain acult following due to itssurrealist mix offantasy,horror, anddark humor.[76][77]
In 2008, Takia co-starred inRohit Shetty's directed mystery comedySunday.[78] The film received mixed critical reviews and underperformed at the box office.[79][80] She then starred in comedyDe Taali.[81] The film did not perform well at the box office and earned poor critical reviews.[82][83]
Takia had two major releases in 2009: action thriller8 x 10 Tasveer oppositeAkshay Kumar andPrabhu Deva'sWanted co-starringSalman Khan.8 x 10 Tasveer performed poorly at the box office.[84] The film stars Takia as Sheila, the fiancé of Akshaye's character. Critical response towards Takia's performance received moderate reviews: Rajeev Masand stated, "Ayesha plays the role of Jai's (Akshay) fiancé and it doesn't leave much of an impression".[85] Taran Adarsh forBollywood Hungama called Takia "natural".[86] TheTimes of India noted, "There's nothing really to cheer you up in the desultory proceedings, unless you want to watch chubby-cheeked Ayesha".[87] AlthoughWanted received mixed reviews from most critics, it went on to become one of the highest-grossing films of the year and marked the biggest commercial success of Takia's career.[88][89] Takia's role as Jahnvi, met with positive reviews.Rediff commented, "Ayesha Takia is given a truly raw deal. She's given a role that can only be described as insufficient".[90]
In 2010, Takia starred in the dramaPaathshaala, alongsideShahid Kapoor. Inspired by theMarathi filmShaala, it generated mixed reviews.[91][92][93] Her last release of the year wasMod, which met with a poor response.[94] In 2012, she hosted the only season of the musical-reality showSur Kshetra.[95]
Takia with husband Farhan Azmi in 2012, atAmitabh Bachchan's 70th birthday party
On 1 March 2009, Takia married restaurateur Farhan Azmi.[96] The couple has a son.[97][98] Takia is active on social media, particularly onTwitter, where she has voiced support for wildlife protection.[99] She converted toIslam and adopted the name Takia Azmi on social media.[100][101][failed verification] In a public statement, she stated she is avegan while posing for a vegan ad forPETA India.[102]
^"8X10 TASVEER MOVIE REVIEW".Entertainment Times. The Times Group. 7 April 2016.Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved30 November 2022.
^"Wanted".Rotten Tomatoes. 30 November 2016. Retrieved20 August 2025.
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