In a setting far removed from the bright lights of Bollywood, former actress Ayesha Takia Azmi recently found herself in the public eye, albeit reluctantly. Captured by the ever-present paparazzi at Mumbai airport, alongside her son, this appearance marked a momentary step into the limelight for someone who has consciously opted for a more private life.
Despite withdrawing from the bustling social media scene over two years ago, Takia’s popularity endures with a following that exceeds one million devotees. Breaking her digital silence, she returned to Instagram earlier this month, where she has once again engaged with her audience, albeit for reasons she would have preferred to avoid.
The ‘Wanted’ star’s Instagram became the platform where she voiced her disapproval and disappointment over undue public scrutiny, sharing a poignant and cryptic message. Takia revealed the urgencies that preempted her appearance, stating, “Need to say this, rushed to Goa two days ago due to a medical emergency in my family. My sister has been in the hospital.” She described an incident of being intercepted by the press and how that fleeting moment resulted in an undue critique of her looks.
With a satirical tone, she expressed her incredulity at the misplaced priorities that led to a national fixation on her appearance. “Turns out there are no other important issues in the country except dissecting my looks,” she wrote, addressing the barrage of “viral, ridiculous opinions” that targeted her.
In her message, Takia was adamant about her disinterest in re-igniting her film career or seeking the limelight again. She openly rebuffed the conjectures of a comeback with candid dismissal, “Literally, get over me, yaar. I have zero interest in doing any films or any comeback as people are saying. I’m living my life happily, never want to be in the limelight, not interested in any fame, don’t wanna be in any film. So chill. Pls feel free to not care about me at all.”
The note continued with Takia addressing the absurdity of expecting a woman to retain her adolescent appearance over a span of fifteen years, calling for introspection over the culture of scrutinizing women’s appearances. She urged her critics to redirect their energy toward more positive and fulfilling activities instead of passing judgment on her or anyone else’s looks.
Closing her message on a resilient note, she turned the negative energy back at her detractors, encouraging them to engage in more joyous pursuits. “Get a hobby, eat a fun meal, talk to ur friend, smile, whatever it takes to not feel so unhappy that you need to tell a gorgeous, happy woman how she’s not looking like you wanted.”
Ayesha Takia ventured onto the big screen with ‘Taarzan: The Wonder Car’ in 2004 and quickly rose to fame with her spirited performances and charming screen presence. However, she retreated from the public eye to focus on personal happiness and familial obligations, a choice that she reiterates with vigour amidst recent unwarranted commentary.
Takia’s firm response to social media trolls is an important conversation about celebrity culture, privacy, and the unfair standards imposed on women regarding their appearance. Hers is a reminder that even after the credits roll, the actors cast in the stories we love on screen retain the right to author the stories of their lives, away from public projection and expectation.
