Actress Ayesha Takia says that when it comes to matters of the heart, she is very traditional. And when it comes to marriage, she is even more traditional in her thoughts.

“I am a typical girl. I like to be wooed with flowers. I like candle-light dinners and everything that you read in those mushy novels. I would like to be wooed the traditional way,” she admits.

So does this mean that her husband Farhan also wooed her traditional way? “Well, I would never propose marriage to anybody. I would always like to be proposed to. It’s been almost six years since I’ve known Farhan now and I think we have graduated to the next level where we know that we are there for each other. So it’s like, ‘Okay, what’s next now?’” she says.

The “what’s next” part was of course sharing Farhan’s professional space as Ayesha forayed into business. “It was a very natural transition for me and it was never meant to be a very hard-thought decision. We used to talk a lot and we were very aware of the differences between us when it comes to food habits — like he is a hard-core coffee drinker and I am very much a chai person. But instead we are now cashing on the difference (by opening a cafe chain). When you share each other’s personal space, you somehow start sharing the professional space also because your work life shapes the person inside you,” says the actress.

But isn’t she afraid of stories that couples grow tired of each other if they are with each other 24×7? “Well, I don’t know about that because we don’t sit in office together. We ensure that we do different things and the way we have sorted our functions out, we get to meet only in the night after we get out of home in the morning. And if you are asking about boredom, no, it has not yet set in — I feel like I got married just a few months back,” Ayesha concludes.

Actress Ayesha Takia feels every stage of life should be savoured — be it as a child, adult, marriage and so on. “It’s been great so far. I am thoroughly enjoying myself. My parents-in-law are cool about my business ventures with my husband, and my film career as well. I am happy that life has shaped up just as I want.”

She rubbishes any talks of retirement from films. “I want to do good films, and will take only those roles and scripts that excite me. And it’s paying off as I am being approached with some interesting roles and scripts. I will finalise a couple of themsoon.”

Will romancing her heroes on-screen be an issue now that she’s married?“I have always done films that are classy, the kind that families can watch together. Where that is concerned, Farhan trusts me completely. We both give each other enough space. Besides, I know where to draw the line,” says Ayesha.

The actress has been observing Ramadan for the last four years.“It’s my way of showing my love to Farhan, who also fasts during this solemn time. Initially it was difficult, but once you get engrossed in work and other activities, it become easier,” she says.

The actress who comes from a mixed cultural background says that she celebrates all festivals. “I don’t think my marriage will change anything. In fact, I consider myself lucky as I will be celebrating Diwali, Eid, Ganpati and also Christmas.”

That sounds like a politician in the making. Does she harbour any such ambitions?“It had not occurred to me until you mentioned it,”she chuckles. “Dad is already in it, Farhan is taking interest in politics, I am just happy supporting them. I am a creative person and happy to be that way.”

Finally, denying the rumours about her pregnancy, she says, “I am too busy with our hotel in Goa. We are stepping up plans for itin terms of our business. A kid is not on the agenda for now.”

Ayesha Takia has quelled rumours that she has started wearing a burqa after marriage and that her husband’s family is ultra-conservative where Ayesha is more amused than exasperated by attempts to put her into the retired actress’ bracket after marriage. “I’m amazed at the games people play. The other day someone asked me if I’ve started wearing a burqa after marriage,” laughs Ayesha. “Far from feeling clamped, I now have the freedom to do more things than before. My parents-in-law are cool about my business ventures with my husband and my film career.”

“Farhan (her husband) and I went around together for five years before marriage. So there goes the conservative card. Suddenly after we made it official, I hear all kinds of rumours, including one that I’m out of Revathy Varmha’s film and that I’ve been replaced by some other actress.” Says Ayesha: “I always felt ‘Wanted’ would be the first big hit of my career. Ironical that it should come now after my marriage. And I’ve got more to do in it than the leading lady in a Salman vehicle would be expected to. And why should I give up a dream role like the one in Revathy’s film? She’s new to the Mumbai industry and quite nervous about these controversies.”

In fact, Revathy and Ayesha’s mother are very close friends. “Revathy comes home regularly. We all laugh at the way the casting is being questioned by people who probably have nothing better to do.” Ayesha also intends to focus on a new business venture. “I started working in films when I was only 15. And I just realised I’ve been at it since then. I need to venture out. It’s time to try out new things in life. Today a young woman has so many opportunities. I’m fortunate to have a name and a face that’s recognisable. I want to use that to my advantage and start a clothes line by the middle of next year.”

Ayesha, her mom and sister Natasha will be partners in the garment business. Says Ayesha: “All three of us are very excited about doing the clothes line. We love fashion. It’s basically for the girls in the family.” Ayesha’s husband Farhan Azmi, who is a restaurateur and the son of Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi, will be there to help his wife with the clothes line.

Was Ayesha Takia spotted in a burqa after marriage? Have her in-laws clamped down on her freedom to act in films? These are the rumours that one hears in the film industry.

Ayesha Takia is more amused than exasperated by attempts to put her into the retired-actress’ bracket after marriage.

The word being spread is that Ayesha has married into an ultra-conservative family where acting is perhaps not permitted.

“I’m amazed at the games people play. The other day someone asked me if I’ve started wearing a burqa after marriage,” laughs Ayesha. “Far from feeling clamped I now have the freedom to do more things than before. My parents-in-law are cool about my business ventures with my husband and my film career.”

“And that’s so ridiculous,” says Ayesha with a laugh. “Farhan and I went around together for five years before marriage. So there goes the convervative card. Suddenly after we make it official I hear all kind of rumours including the fact that I’m out of Revathy Varmha’s film and that I’ve been replaced by some other actress.”

Says Ayesha, “I’ve never felt the need to grab roles. I’ve got what I wanted. And it will continue that way. I always felt Wanted would be the first big hit of my career. Ironical that it should come now after my marriage. And I’ve got more to do in it than the leading lady in a Salman vehicle would be expected to. In fact I was blown away by the way I was presented. And why should I give up a dream role like the one in Revathy’s film? She’s new to the Mumbai industry and quite nervous about these controversies.”

Revathy Varhma and Ayesha’s mother are very close friends. “Revathy comes home regularly. We all laugh at the way the casting is being questioned by people who probably have nothing better to do.”

Ayesha now intends to focus on new business venture. “I started working in films when I was only 15. And I just realized I’ve been at it since then. I need to venture out. It’s time to try out new things in life. Today a young woman has so many opportunities to do so many things. I’m fortunate to have a name and a face that’s recognizable. I want to use that to my advantage and start a clothes line by the middle of next year.”

Ayesha, her mom and sister Natasha are going to be partners in the garment business. Laughs Ayesha, “All three of us are very excited about doing the clothes line. We love fashion it’s basically for the girls in the family.”

Ayesha’s husband Farhan will be there to help his wife and her family with the clothes line. “Yes, Farhan’s there to help us women in every way possible.”

Marriage hasn’t changed Ayesha. “I’m the same. I always will be. Post-marriage I’m exactly the same. That could be because I was seeing Farhan from long before. Psychologically we were married long before. It feels like we were serious about each other forever.”

Gorgeous Ayesha has done commendable work in Dor and 8 x 10 Tasveer. And now she is all set to spellbound the audience with her performance in her recent movie ‘Wanted’.

She is extremely excited about her forthcoming release and expects that she stands up to the expectations of her fans. She is full of respect and admiration for her co-star Salman Khan. She considers Salman doing justice to every co-actor’s role and not over-shadowing them.

She is all in praises for him and said, “He is very generous and incredible. Many actors try to steal their co-stars’ screen space; but Salman is super-confident and secure. He will never do that. I find that truly admirable.’’

Ayesha is selective about choosing film as she lays more importance on quality than quantity. She says “I want to do films that will be remembered, not run-of-the-mill stuff where I stand behind looking pretty as a picture.”

Presently, she is doing just one more film, which is Revathy Verma’s Aap Ke Liye Hum with Jaya Bachchan and Raveena Tandon.

Ayesha clarifies that nothing has changed after she got married. She insists that everything is still the same with her and that she is committed to her work the same way as she was before marriage.

The actress says about her married life that “Getting hitched hasn’t changed anything. I feel exactly the same. I was seeing Farhan for five years before I married him. We knew from day one that we were committed to each other and would marry. I’m now officially his wife, and though our marriage is six months old, everything around me is the same. I still spend most of my days with my husband, I shoot whenever I have to, I continue to take interest in the business that mom and I have set up. I repeat nothing has changed.’’