The sweet and supportive Anjali from Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar is still remembered fondly by every 90s Bollywood fan. The character was beautifully played by Ayesha Jhulka, and the film became a turning point in her career. She starred opposite Aamir Khan, and the role made her a household name.
However, Ayesha Jhulka’s journey in Bollywood was not always easy. Like many newcomers, she also faced her share of struggles in the film industry. In one of her interviews, the actress opened up about how she was once replaced in a film, even before her career properly started. The film in question was Narsimha, which starred Sunny Deol and Dimple Kapadia in lead roles.
Ayesha Jhulka’s Early Career and Struggles
Before entering Bollywood, Ayesha began her acting career with a Telugu film called Meti Siddhartha. She later made her Hindi film debut with Salman Khan in the movie Kurbaan in 1991. The film was a box office hit and helped her get noticed in the industry. However, despite this early success, she reportedly lost out on several roles in other big projects.
One such film was Narsimha, which released in the same year. In an old interview with ETimes, Ayesha shared her disappointment about being replaced. She said,
“Yes, I was pretty put off with the incident. More than anything, it hurt me because I had not even begun, and I was thrown out of films. It was quite a controversy, it made it to the headlines, that Ayesha Jhulka was replaced, that hurt me a lot.”
Family Support Helped Her Stay Strong
Even though being dropped from the film was a tough experience, Ayesha Jhulka was lucky to have a strong support system. Her family stood by her side during this difficult time. She added,
“They said to wait till our film came out and everyone told me to not feel bad. With their support, I came out of it pretty fast and my journey began when Kurbaan released.”
Narsimha, directed by N Chandra, featured an ensemble cast including Sunny Deol, Dimple Kapadia, Ravi Behl, Urmila Matondkar, and Om Puri. Although Ayesha was replaced, she didn’t let the setback stop her. She went on to do many successful films like Khiladi, Waqt Hamara Hai, Masoom, and more.
A Resilient Comeback
After taking a break from films, Ayesha made a comeback with movies like Socha Na Tha and Umrao Jaan. She also appeared on television and was recently seen in the popular cooking reality show Celebrity MasterChef in 2025.
Ayesha Jhulka’s story is one of resilience and courage. From facing rejection early in her career to becoming one of the most loved actresses of the 90s, she has truly come a long way. Her fans still admire her for her grace, strength, and memorable roles in Bollywood.
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