Ayesha Jhulka – Bollywood actress of ‘Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar’ and ‘Khiladi’ fame

Ayesha Jhulka is a former Bollywood actress who played numerous memorable roles in the 1990s. She donned both village belle and modern girl avatars with ease, and owned numerous fans in the 1990s. Her pairing with Bollywood superstars – Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar was well appreciated. Though she couldn’t make it big in Bollywood, her name is always mentioned among best Bollywood actresses of 1990s. She played female lead in Bollywood blockbusters – Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar and Khiladi. Dalaal, Masooq, Gunghat, Jai Kishen, Waqt Hamara Hai, Ikka Raja Rani, Rang, Masoom, Sangram, Meherbaan, Balma etc are other major works, and most of them were commercially successful.

Ayesha Jhulka was born in Srinagar in 1972. Her father is a Wing Commander in Indian air force, and she lived in Delhi in most of her younger days. Her mother is a costume designer. This attractive actress with innocent looks marked her film debut as a child artist in less-known film Kaise Kaise Log in 1983. She marked her film debut in a second lead role in 1990 Telugu film, Neti Siddhartha. She was to be launched to Bollywood through Qayamat Ki Raat by producer Kumar Mangat. Following a heated argument she left the project, which went to Juhi Chawla.

When her boyfriend at Delhi jilted her she moved to Mumbai where she started her modelling career, as she dreamt, and then promoted to films. She always wanted to become a successful model and actress. Less-known film ‘Meet Mere Mann Ke’ marked her Bollywood debut where she played parallel lead. As a lead heroine she was launched opposite Salman Khan in Kurbaan the same year, and the film’s success established as an actress. She went on to sign some of the best films of the first half of 1990s, and also played lead roles in two top films of 1990s – Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar and Khiladi. Though she owned many hit films to her credit, luck didn’t favour her in the second half of 1990s, and slowly she faded away from screen.

Ayesha Jhulka – Some interesting facts

1. She relocated from Delhi to Mumbai because her childhood lover rejected her.

2. She has been engaged to Ravi Behl in 1991 and Armaan Kohli in 1993. There were rumours of her linkup with Khiladi co-star, Akshay Kumar and also senior actors – Nana Patekar and Mithun Chakraborty. Finally she married Sameer Vashi in 2003.

3. It’s said that she had a live-in relationship with Nana Patekar with whom she did the movie, Aanch. She broke up with the actor when he humiliated her in front of the public while shooting a play. It was also rumoured that she had a live-in relationship with Mithun Chakraborty.

4. Many believe that she took her relationship with Armaan Kohli so serious that it ruined her career. They worked together in Anaam in 1992, and love blossomed soon after.

5. After marriage she retired from films, though she played brief roles later. Her husband Sameer Vashi is the construction business, and the couple is currently settled in Mumbai.

6. She starred in over 45 movies, and most of her films were released in the 1990s.

7. She has worked in Punjabi and south Indian films too.

8. Pehla Nasha from Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar filmed on Ayesha and Aamir is still craze among teenagers and youngsters. It’s the first ever slow motion song filmed in Bollywood.

9. Her films co-starring Akshay Kumar and Mithun Chakraborty remained commercially successful.

10. She experienced stardom at an early age but lost it soon also. She was 19 when she was offered Kurbaan.

11. After her career declined she appeared in movies like Hote Hote Pyar Ho Gaya, Kohram: The Explosion, Run, Umrao Jaan, ADA…A Way of Life, Genius etc, where she mostly donned supporting roles.

12. From love affairs to her tiff with filmmakers, she always remained in news during her active career days.

13. When the filmmakers Parth Ghosh and Prakash Mehra used a body double for her intimate scenes in Dalaal, she had an argument with them. Earlier she had denied doing sex scene in the film. Initially she was also reluctant to do the film with the title, Dalaal. She accepted the film only after she received assurance from filmmakers that it was a clean film.

14. She has worked with both Salman Khan and Aamir Khan in one movie each, and both were commercially successful. But she never worked with King Khan. Though promos of the film titled Kise Se Dil Lagake Deko co-starring SRK were released, the film got shelved.

15. She played a major role in grooming the careers of many superstars of today co-starring with them in the initial days, she has been forgotten long before.

16. Her suspense thriller ‘Khiladi’ co-starring Akshay Kumar was later made into a series of films and all of them remained successful. The film also earned Akshay Kumar the name, Khiladi.  

17. She has featured in many raunchy songs of Bollywood 1990s – a trademark of movies made during that decade. She has appeared aside Ajay Devgan, Akshay Kumar, Armaan Kohli and Mithun Chakraborty for sexually explicit songs. She was also seen in an intimate scene with Nana Patekar for 2003 film, Aanch.

18. Currently she is into theatre production and has launched a few plays.

Ayesha Jhulka – Top Bollywood songs

1. Pehla Nasha – Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar

2. Kaun Ho Tum Jo Dil Mein Samaye Jate Ho – Masooq

3. Tumhe Dil To De Chuke Hain – Masooq

4. Ye Dhadkan Mere Dil Ki – Masooq

5. Ghoonghat Mein Chehra – Ghoonghat

6. Gore Gore Paon Mein Chandi Ki Payal – Ghoonghat

7. Waada Raha Sanam – Khiladi

8. Khud Ko Kya Samachti Hai – Khiladi

9. Yeh Jo Teri Payal Ki Chan Chan Hai – Masoom

10. Chori Chori Meine Bhi – Dalaal

11. Kachchi Kali Kachnar Ki – Waqt Hamara Hai

12. Bheegi Hui Hai Raat Magar – Sangram

13. Beshak Tum Meri Mohabbat Ho – Sangram

14. Udte Badal Se Poocho – Sangram

15. Chudiya Bajau Ki Bajau Kangna – Muqaddar

16. Nazron Ki Milne Se – Vishwa Vidaata