Ayesha Takia Azmi took a lazy vacation to Goa with hubby Farhan Azmi and her family during Navratri.

Ayesha’s family is currently constructing a property in the state. The actress had been planning a family trip for a long time but somehow, the entire family couldn’t be together as they were steeped with work.

However, one month of planning made sure that the entire family finally got together. Ayesha played a perfect daughter making sure everything was in place for their refreshing trip.

Jewellery designer Maheep Kapoor also showcased at the HDIL Couture Week and amongst the many divas who graced the ramp, the most striking was actress Ayesha Takia Azmi. Ayesha looked absolutely radiant in a peacock blue gown which was highlighted by a stunning diamond necklace, earrings and bangles. Sigh… Our wish-list just got longer.

You wonder if after marrying, Ayesha Takia Azmi has taken a sabbatical from acting and in turn paved the way for her sister Natasha Takia to enter Bollywood. But that’s speculation. We miss you Ayesha.

Meanwhile though, a starlet is on her way to become a silver screen diva. 22-year old Natasha has completely transformed herself from her once-grungy image to a polished and puckered up look.

And we are referring to a seriously grungy past. Look at the “before” picture of Natasha in her Zeenat-Aman-meets-John-Lennon look. Yes, that’s unmistakably her on the left. At the time, along with a few pubescent acne marks, the girl had some 18 piercings on her body, including her tongue, nose, ear… and the rest we leave to your fertile imagination.

The engravings have now been ironed out to reveal a smooth, unscathed new Natsha. Even signs indicating her skin might once have been worked upon, have vanished. A source reveals, “Natasha has lost a lot of weight and is keen to make it big in Bollywood. She has already started pursuing dance classes.”

If Darsheel Safary could do it, Natasha should not find it too hard.

Conversely, we recently saw the hugely-acclaimed Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and the lead actress had more than her share of piercings…

Ayesha Takia nay Ayesha Takia Azmi always ‘Wanted’ to join a ‘Paathshaala’ of music! Yes! Seriously speaking she always had this great passion for music especially Indian music.

In a casual chat with Shaheen Raaj in a Bollywoodian Bash the traditionally conservative turned hep and peppy Gujju lass Ayesha Takia Azmi muses about her taste for music routing more deeply for the Indian milieu rather than having a pensive ear for Western fare. Time to lend your musical ears in solitude!

Time for some rapid-fire musical queries Ayesha, for the musically inclined readers.
Yeah! Ok! Shoot!

What is your overall opinion about music – both Indian and Western?
I think music knows no barriers, no boundaries. So segregating it into two different segments is rather unfair.

The connoisseurs of music are global. So why this division of Indian vs. Western! In a way, it’s rather complicated too as most of the Indians are lovers of Western music while most of the foreigners are staunch lovers of Indian music.

And then there are also people from across the entire continent, who prefer both the types of music. So in the end one can only say ‘to each his own liking’.

So what is Ayesha’s liking?
Well! I am more of an Indian music buff having been born and brought up in a traditionally conservative Gujarati family. So right from my childhood I was fed on a staple diet of the traditional folk music replete with the raas and the garba flavor. Oh! How I wish I could get a chance to do a typical musical film in Gujarati!

Are you still gripped with this typical traditional flavor of music?
In a way, yes. That is, till I crossed my adolescence and entered the glamorous grease paint arena. Yeah! Time changes and it changes your likings and your taste for music too.

Besides this kind of music is now almost non-existent! It has, in fact, become seasonal. So we hear it and we relish it only during the nine day Dandiya Raas phase during Dusshera.

So what kind of music do you prefer all the year round?
Anything that is soothing, melodious, mellifluous and one which lifts up your spirits when you are in a relaxed mood or even when you are jovial or in an utterly depressive state.

Can you be specific in this regard?
Of course. When I find myself in any of the above mentioned states, I just put my feet up and enjoy the songs of yesteryear’s golden era. I get a real high by listening to the songs of K.L. Saigal, Noorjehan, and Suraiya.

But then that is when I am totally alone and in an absolutely melancholic state. So whenever my family catches me in such a pensive musical mood they are really shocked and are out of their wits.

Which means your all time favorite singers are….?
No not the singers I mentioned above but Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar and then Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle strictly in that order.

Please don’t ask me to name my all time favorite numbers as I don’t want to play favorites even with my all time favorite singers. So let’s just say that all the songs that have ever been sung by them are my all time favorites.

And then what about your all time favorite music composers?
All of them right from Naushad Sahab, Kalyanji–Anandji, Shankar–Jaikishen, Laxmikant–Pyarelal, R. D. Burman to Nadeem–Shravan, Allah Rakha Rahman, Anu Malik, Himesh Reshamiya and above all Adnan Sami and all others.

Point noted but does this desi babe Ayesha ever freaks out on videshi music too?
You bet she does. Jabse maine hosh sambhala hai I have been equally passionate about Western music. I rarely miss out on a pianist, an instrumentalist, a jazz, a pop and a rock singer’s concert.

Not to forget singers like Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, Boyz Band including our very own now non-existent Indian Band Of Boys. Of late, I have become a regular discotheque freak to catch up on all the latest Western music.

Ayesha Takia Azmi, who is married to well-known entrepreneur Farhan Azmi, is planning to open a chain of cafes called ‘Chai Coffee’. The first outlet is expected to open in Versova, Mumbai.

ANJAANA ANJAANI, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra and directed by Siddharth Raj Anand, is almost complete, except for a 3-day shooting. Since the makers couldn’t get permissions to shoot on a bridge in U.S.A., the portions are currently being shot in Malaysia.

While on ANJAANA ANJAANI, although the release of the film has been fixed for 1st October, Siddharth is keen to bring it in July, almost three months before its scheduled date.

Karan Johar and debutante director Siddharth Malhotra are still searching for the right title for their film, starring Kajol, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal. In fact, both Karan and Siddharth have asked netizens on Twitter to come up with an apt title, but haven’t found one yet.

After an year’s delay because the actress is Farhan Azmi’s wife, a Muslim

In spite of Mumbai being one of the most cosmopolitan cities in India religion still plays a deciding factor on where you choose to reside.

Because I married Ayesha Takia Azmi says, “My mother and sister have just found a house in Pali Hill at Bandra after searching for a whole year. While some societies don’t want Muslims, others say the same for both Christians and Muslims. Ever since I married Farhan, some housing societies feel my mom and sis are Muslims too and refuse to let them stay.

Six months ago, after another fruitless search, when mom was turned away by yet another society they both couldn’t contain their hurt and frustration and broke down in the car. I was shocked when they told me the truth.”

Ayesha adds, “Mom and my sister had been searching for a home in Bandra that was central and closer to Colaba, where Farhan and I stay. Earlier, they used to stay in Versova. In Khar, Muslims are strictly not allowed. I found all these things very disappointing as I myself come from a mixed culture.

My father is a Gujarati and mom’s dad was English and her mother Maharashtrian. We celebrate Diwali, Christmas, Holi and now Eid. In the film industry, no one asks or cares for such things. My mom and sister finally got a flat in Pali Hill because the previous owners were also Muslims.”

Don’t know why…Ayesha’s mother’s flat in Versova was sold to Abbas Tyrewala who had complained that he couldn’t shift in because the flat was still occupied. Ayesha says, ‘I don’t know why Abbas said that. In his contract it clearly states that he can shift in from January 20. He’s shifting in today as per the agreement.”

Ayesha is currently taking a break from films. “I am going through a growing process. I have changed a lot and stopped living in my own bubble”

Ayesha Takia Azmi seems keen to prove that married women can have their fan following and career intact as well as the fair maidens of Bollywood.

Her new film Wanted, opposite Salman Khan, releases this Friday, and seems to be quite a September attraction.

Ayesha chats with Nithya Ramani about films, marriage and future plans.

This is your second film after marriage. How does it feel?

It feels great. It is a good film to release at this point, as it clears misconceptions like I am not doing films. I am. I have been modelling since I was four years old so facing the camera is second nature to me. It’s something I want to do all my life.

I’m very excited about Wanted. It’s come out fabulous. I have seen the film. I think people will love it.

What is Wanted about?

It is a masala film — an action film. Salman is doing action after a long time. It has great music and a lot of dance, since Prabhu Deva is the director. It’s not mindless entertainment, there is a serious story to it.

I play Janvi, a simple and naive girl. It’s when she meets Salman’s character that she realises that there are things that happen that she hasn’t even thought of. So there is a big transition in her life.

She’s cute, bubbly and very much married. But the last bit doesn’t make Ayesha Takia Azmi any less ‘Wanted’ by her fans.

The actress, whose latest release is Wanted opposite Salman Khan, got to find out how much her fans adore her in a rediff chat on Thursday. For those who missed the chat, here’s what transpired:

Ayesha Takia says, Hi everybody, it is great to be here chatting to all of you today.

deepak asked, u r lookin so beutiful in ur upcoming movie
Ayesha Takia answers, Deepak, thank you so much!

jjjjj asked, how you have plan to pusue both carrier and marriage life
Ayesha Takia answers, Ya. I am going to pursue both career and marriage.

pooja asked, Tell something abt prabhu deva
Ayesha Takia answers, He actually seems like a quiet person at first but he is someone who jokes and smiles all the time. It was a pleasure working with him on this film as a director.

santanu asked, hi what is the release date of the movie ‘Wanted’
Ayesha Takia answers, Wanted is releasing on September 18. Go and watch. It is a fun film.

JITENDRA asked, HELLO AISHA IM A BIG FAN OF URS. CONGRATULATION FOR UR WEDDING. I M WAITING FOR UR UPCOMING FILM WANTED BCOZ I LIKE SALMAN ALSO.UR PAIRING WITH SALMAN IS TOO GOOD
Ayesha Takia answers, Thank you very much.

jimmy asked, Why you got married so early because your career just started?
Ayesha Takia answers, Career and marriage don’t have to do anything with each other. In 2009 people can do both successfully.

ayushi asked, What do you like to do for fun ??
Ayesha Takia answers, I watch lots of movies, both English and Hindi. I love going through fashion magazines, love to read — Paulo Coelho is my favourite author. I love going on long drives with either my mom or sister, and Farhan.

Rotts asked, Wanted promos rock…the dialogue promos look awesome…never expected u & Salman to have such a great chemistry…man this is so cool…waiting for Sep 18
Ayesha Takia answers, Thanks for your support with the promos of Wanted. I promise you it is a rocking film.

Gorgeous Wallpapers of Ayesha Takia Azmi.

Ayesha Takia Azmi is all set to make her appearance on Salman Khan’s show ’10 Ka Dum’. This is the first time that the actress will be seen on screen after her marriage to Farhan Azmi. As a part of the promotion for the film ‘Wanted’, Ayesha and Prabhu Deva will be celebrity guests on Salman’s show. Prabhu Deva, who was last seen in ‘Dance India Dance’ and ‘Nach Baliye’, was heard saying that this was a completely different experience for him.