It was a dream debut — a dream role with a dream cast — for Ayesha Kapur, who played a differently abled character in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black in 2005, sharing screen space with actor Amitabh Bachchan. But other than that and a role in Sikandar (2009) as a child actor, Kapur has stayed away from films till date.

Talking about her life after Black, the 27-year-old, who grew up in Auroville, Tamil Nadu, says, “People back in Auroville don’t really watch films. People didn’t make a big deal about me having been in Black and being famous. I remember, only when I went to Puducherry would people recognize me and ask for autographs… And it would be embarrassing.”

She admits that her upbringing was different, and that is why she never let fame and money go to her head. “It was a little overwhelming, navigating all of that. But I am grateful for the opportunity to do the film,” she adds.

After the stellar debut, which got her multiple awards, it is rather hard to imagine that Kapur would not have got many more acting offers as a child actor. Here, she reveals that her father took a decision on her behalf to stay away from Bollywood.

“My father is super protective and he didn’t want me to be caught up in the whole Bollywood thing. They weren’t living in Mumbai and they didn’t want me to lead that life. At that age, one is very impressionable. People tell you that you are good and it could have had a negative impact on me,” she shares.

Kapur quickly adds that fame is not a bad thing in itself, but for a child, it is a different story. In fact, she reveals that in between school and college, she did spend some time in Mumbai, trying out an acting career, and that is when filmmaker Shekhar Kapur’s Paani happened. Unfortunately, the project never got made.

“It was a dream role for me. The film was both in Hindi and English, something I was very comfortable with as Hindi is not my first language… I had a three-film contract with the production house, and then the film got shelved and I broke the contract. My parents then insisted that I go to college, so I went back to studies,” shares Kapur, who is now an integrative nutrition health coach.

Currently based in Goa, she says living outside Auroville made her realise how difficult it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle on a daily basis.

“That also made me realise I want to be in this field. I graduated last year from Columbia University (USA) with Sociology, and I did a year long health and nutrition course. I help people achieve their health goals and be their healthier self,” explains Kapur, who also is the co-founder of an accessory company with her mother.

However, she admits there is still love left for acting. “My primary focus is the health and wellness field. But I am open to acting. I have not signed any agent yet. I have had people approach me, but nothing has materialised. I would only like to go through with it with the right kind of role,” she concludes.

Vinod Talreja (DNA; February 26, 2015)


Ishaan and Ayesha arrived at Sasha’s party together and happily posed for the shutterbugs too! Looks like the two have been dating for some time, after all she attended her boyfriend’s elder brother’s birthday party with his family!

Ayesha, who was appreciated for her performance as a deaf, mute and blind girl in Sanjay Leela Bhasali’s Black went on to do Sikandar starring R Madhavan and Parzaan Dastur. Ishaan, on the other hand, is gearing up to make an entry in Bollywood.

Sanaya Chavda (DNA; December 2, 2014)


You’re known for your role in Black though it was many years ago. Since then how do you think you’ve transformed as an actor?
An actor never stops doubting himself/herself. I have been through a stage in Black where everyone was like you’re amazing. It’s crazy because I was just an ordinary kid. Somehow you have to be really protected so that you don’t think too much of yourself. And luckily I had that and I was able to keep to myself which I think is very important for an actor. An actor needs to be himself/herself to be able to portray any character. I went through Sikander. I went through boarding school, I was acting there. And just because people at times may not say you’ve done an amazing job... I think either way, it’s important to know who you are as a person. I’ve been able to keep grounded and not become completely downhearted when people were like you’re not doing this perfectly. I’ve been through that entire journey and now I’m here and meeting lots of people. Things are going really well. I am really excited to start working with Yash Raj.

Are you in touch with Sanjay Leela Bhansali since the film?
I met him once, just recently. I went to his office. It was really funny. It was like deja vu. He looked exactly the same as I remembered. The whole time during Black, that entire experience, I can remember it so vividly because it was an important time in my life. Even though I was so young it is very clear in my head. All the people, the experiences and the moments. When I met him I felt like I was a little kid again walking into his office to meet him. It was very nice.

Have you seen any of his latest films?
I have seen Ram Leela, I really liked it. I liked both Deepika (Padukone) and Ranveer (Singh). They are very talented.

So even though you have been away from the camera you have been following films.
Of course, that’s my job. I have an excuse to sit and watch films.

You’re going to be next seen in Paani?
It is not confirmed yet. They’re looking at a couple of different projects. I can’t reveal more about the three-film deal with YRF. It will be announced soon. I think Yash Raj will know exactly where to guide me. I have been training. I have been working on dancing, working on acting. I learnt Hindi for about a year. I didn’t know a single word but slowly I was able to pick it up. I think an actor should never stop training.

Any of the newer crop of male actors that you would like to work with?
There are a lot. I really like Ranbir Kapoor. In fact, he is the one who trained me when I was a kid, he was an assistant director on Black. So I had a lot of interactions with him. He’s very effortless, a great actor. I like Aditya Roy Kapur, Sushant Singh Rajput. I’m really open to working with all of them.

As an actress are you looking for different roles or are you open to commercial ones?
I want to be versatile. Naturally, Black was that kind of film, it was put in a certain genre. But I’m open to everything. I would like to do films that have meaning, something that has a greater impact. I’d be happy to do a romantic comedy or a Bollywood commercial film as well.

Is acting your first love?
Everyone asks me that. But I love both acting and designing accessories. I can’t put one in front of the other. I would love to do Bollywood movies for a long time. Initially I got into NYU and was supposed to study there but I deferred it by a year and then decided it was a time in my life when I’m meant to be here and focus on my career. I can always study later.

Ayesha Accessories is four years old, any plans to expand it further?
We are expanding within our accessories collection. Like our bags range was very limited and now we have more options. We launched a pearl collection inspired by the TV show Two Broke Girls. We have a boys collection which is unique. The brand is affordable, fun and funky. It’s about being able to buy 10 pieces of jewellery where in another store you might buy one. It’s for the young at heart.

Where do you look for inspiration?
I’m inspired all the time by stuff off the streets of Tokyo. Also, young and upcoming designers who no one knows about and people around me. Being observant is important.

Have you thought of doing a traditional Indian line?
I’m connecting to my Indian roots more now that I’m living in Mumbai. But I don’t know if I understand it that well yet. It makes sense that the brand has a mix of Indian and Western influences since that’s what I am.

Subhash K Jha (DNA; September 18, 2014)

The girl who gets the prized role in Shekhar’s futuristic love story is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s child protégé in Black — Ayesha Kapur. The 11-year-old who played the deaf-mute and rebellious Michelle McNally had shown no nervousness while facing the camera with the mighty Amitabh Bachchan, who played her teacher.
Nine years later she is back as the new Yash Raj heroine and Aditya’s fave girl, with a three-film deal tucked firmly under her belt.

While the Paani team has been sworn into silence by the film’s producers, a source close to the film’s team reveals, “Shekhar’s film is a Romeo and Juliet set in futuristic Mumbai when water is the greatest wealth.”
Shekhar had approached Kristen Stewart, Emma Watson and Jennifer Lawrence for the role but Aditya Chopra was insistent on getting Ayesha.

The YRF head honcho sent Shekhar to meet the Black girl. He spent days talking to her before he was convinced that the 20-year-old was the best choice for the film. Ayesha moved to Mumbai from Auroville a year ago and has been undergoing various training classes like diction, acting, action etc. The Paani development, however, is recent... Because she is so young, Adi insisted on meeting her parents before signing her on. Right now the prep for Paani is on. Wait for the official announcement!