She’s even more talkative than she was before marriage — obviously, becoming Mrs. Ayesha Farhan Azmi has made Ayesha Takia even more effervescent. What’s more, hubby seems to have proved professionally lucky for her, for “Wanted,” which released Sept. 18, is her first-ever hit and blockbuster. “Wanted,” directed by India’s top choreographer, Prabhudeva, making his filmmaking debut, stars Salman Khan as a hit-man who comes up against corrupt Mumbai police and a doozy of a bad guy (National Award winner Prakash Raj).

Producer Boney Kapoor announced Sept. 25 that he was planning a sequel to “Wanted,” which he said earned Rs. 40 crores its first week alone.

Indian PR being what it is, the interviews are held a mere three days before the release so we have to look at a pre-“Wanted” feel in her answers.

For those who came in late, Ayesha Takia’s first film, “Socha Na Tha,” also marked the debuts of Abhay Deol and Imtiaz Ali, but it was delayed and so she made her first impression with Abbas-Mustan’s “Taarzan – The Wonder-Car” (2004). The only film of Ayesha’s that did average business was “Shaadi Se Pehle” (2006), since even films like “Dil Maange More!!!” with Shahid Kapoor, “8X10 Tasveer” with Akshaye Khanna, big films like “Salaam-e-Ishq” and “Shaadi No.1” and even her acclaimed “Dor,” failed to meet box-office expectations. Before that, she was a child model who was a star in her own right who according to her then-co-child star Shahid Kapoor was into throwing tantrums! We start the interview on that note.

Excerpts from an interview with India-West:

Q: Met Shahid Kapoor recently and he says that as a child he hated you as you would throw tantrums and make him cool his heels on the sets!

A: (Laughs loudly) He is right! I was a brat, since I was a star of sorts and he had started modeling after me! But when we worked on “Dil Maange More!!!” and “Fool’N’Final” we got along fine.

Q: How similar is the character of “Wanted” to your real self?

A: I think that no matter how different a character I play, a little bit of me seeps into every role. I am keeping my fingers crossed now — “Wanted” is a good product, and what is important is that the film should be a hit.

Q: How was the rapport with Salman Khan? And does the age difference show?

A: Actually, we girls have to be careful about looks. Men as a rule start looking great as they age, and that’s true of Salman Khan too. My husband Farhan looks hotter than when I first met him and so I wonder how he will look when he touches 35! It’s we women who have to worry! Salman was a great co-star — very caring and supportive.

Q: Are you really quitting films now that you are married?

A: Frankly, I have no clue where that came from! I never said that I am quitting, nor does my husband want me to do so. I will act as long as the people want to watch me. My next film is Revathy’s next, with Jaya Bachchan. I am looking for a blend of commercial appeal and scope for acting; I have always done that.

Q: What do you think of Abhay Deol, your first co-star’s, present work?

A: I am really proud of Abhay and where he has reached doing the kind of work that he believes in. Let me tell you a secret — among my own films, our “Socha Na Tha” is still my favorite, not “Dor” that got me more acclaim.

Q: Do you have any wish-list of co-stars?

A: Shah Rukh Khan, of course! (laughs) I recently shook hands with him at an awards function and did not feel like washing it forever!

Ayesha Takia & Akshay Kumar 8×10 Tasveer Movie Stills (Part 4).

Ayesha Takia & Akshay Kumar 8×10 Tasveer Movie Stills (Part 3)

Ayesha Takia & Akshay Kumar 8×10 Tasveer Movie Stills (Part 2).

Ayesha Takia & Akshay Kumar 8×10 Tasveer Movie Stills (Part 1).

How odd — two films in quick succession that more or less dabble in the same premise. Aa Dekhen Zara featured a camera that took photos which predicted the future, while in this one Akshay Kumar plays a character who can look at a photo and recreate the past, and both aren’t picture perfect!

The only significant difference is that this one has better actors and a more capable director. However, even that doesn’t elevate it anywhere above time-pass status, which raises an immediate question. Why would Akshay Kumar, a physical actor who needs to flex every sinew, every muscle in his body to project, would want to work with a director like Nagesh Kukunoor who appeals more to the thinking actor?

The answer is simple: both want the same thing — recognition, Akki to prove he really can act while Nagesh to convince doubters he can get the best out of big stars.

Unfortunately, that’s where the problem begins as Akshay spends so much time physical- ly exerting himself by running helter skelter that Nagesh rarely taps into the consider- able psychological angle that was required for this intended supernatural thriller and, therefore, fails to extract anything more out of Akki than what we’ve witnessed previously. It results in a thriller with plenty of physical activity but not enough by way of mental stimulation.

Oddly enough, Aa Dekhen Zara encountered the exact same fate but for one important distinction, the efforts of its cast didn’t justify the cost of an admission ticket, while this one does, but only just.

Akki plays forestry officer Jai Puri, a pretty adventurous guy who stumbles upon the fact that he is able to mentally step into a photograph and follow the events of the very next minute to transpire from there.

An 8X10 photo taken by his mother (Sharmila Tagore), featuring his late father (Benjamin Gilani), becomes the tool towards unravelling the cause of his father’s death, but it requires the guidance of an eccentric cop named “Happi with an i” (played by Javed Jaffrey) and Jai’s supportive girlfriend Sheela for him to know where to begin.

The mystery unravels slowly until a far-fetched twist leaves one wondering whether it was necessary or even contemplating that Kukunoor threw it in just for the sake of it.

Akki’s attempt to better himself is laudable but Kukunoor may have made more of it. Akki tries hard giving the necessary expressions and attention but the overall impression is that so much of his time is spent on the move that there’s no time for sufficient contemplation.

Ayesha Takia’s career is going nowhere fast, and now that she’s married, she may well become more selective. Takia was magnificent in Kuku- noor’s Dor, which was a role that offered much more scope, and although she does little wrong here, she’s barely stretched.

Jaffrey raises some laughs and the seniors in the cast make their mark. Salim Sulaiman’s soundtrack has its moments with Hafiz Khuda and Aaja Maahi standing out. Another attraction is the crisp Canadian locales that provide an eye-pleasing setting.

Sitting through it made it obvious that Kukunoor is best suited to an alternate form of cinema, where the script takes precedence over the size of the budget and the cast. His track record proves he is capable of doing a lot with a little but here he offers very little with a lot.

FOOTNOTE: Kukunoor’s filmography includes the wonderfully off-beat Hyderabad Blues, one of India’s finest sports films, Iqbal, and Dor, about two women in rural India. He has a reputation as a maverick filmmaker with a flair for the unconventional, making it doubly disappointing for something that is so entirely straightforward.

Ayesha Takia & Akshay Kumar Feat the song “Hafiz Khuda” from the movie 8×10 tasveer.

The Bollywood movie 8×10 Tasveer, which premiered on Friday, is the story of a young man (Akshay Kumar) with the unique supernatural gift of being able to look into dead people’s pasts.

Kumar has taken a break from his usual over-the-top comic roles to play a subdued and complex character in this film, directed by Nagash Kukunoor. It also stars Ayesha Takia and Sharmila Tagore.

The Sunday Times Extra is giving away five double tickets to Gauteng readers to watch the movie at Nu Metro Montec asino.

To win tickets, answer this question: who stars in the male lead role of 8×10 Tasveer?

Jai is a man in his 30’s and he is powered with supernatural powers. Jai can tell about the past of any person by just touching a thing that belongs to the person. The supernatural power comes with responsibility and sometimes Jai himself doubt the credibility of the supernatural power.

Jai can tell about dead man from his 8 X 10 photograph. Jai’s soul rediscovers the past and Jai keeps secret about the lives of other people. Once a 8 X 10 photograph reveals secret relate to Jai past and mysteries are perplexing. What will Jia do after knowing the truth .How will he interpret the indications given by supernatural powers, that is the story of the film directed by Nagesh Kukunoor who previously made films such as Hyderabad Blues and Iqbal. As per the move makers the film will have an amazing climax that unfolds all mysteries.

The First Look of the movie was released some days back by Nagesh and the movie stars Akshay Kumar in lead role along with Ayesha Takia, Sharmila Tagore and Vinod Khanna.

This is the second look of 8×10 tasveer in which Ayesha Takia & Akshay Kumar both are starring.