Ayesha Jhulka, known for her beloved role as Anjali in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander, has addressed the emotional controversy surrounding her removal from the film Narsimha, which starred Dimple Kapadia and Sunny Deol. Early in her career, during the 1990s, Jhulka encountered the Dimple Kapadia and Narsimha movie controversy, and she recently shared how the incident significantly impacted her.
The Early Days and Setbacks in Bollywood
Jhulka made her mark in cinema with her Telugu debut in Meti Siddhartha and captured Bollywood audiences in 1991 with Salman Khan’s Kurbaan. Despite Kurbaan’s box office success, she faced difficult transitions, including being replaced from several planned projects. One of the most notable setbacks occurred with Narsimha, a film that ended up featuring Dimple Kapadia, Sunny Deol, and an ensemble cast including Ravi Behl, Om Puri, and Urmila Matondkar, under the direction of N Chandra.
Speaking Openly About the Hurtful Experience
In a candid interview with ETimes, Ayesha Jhulka explained how being dropped from Narsimha made headlines and left her deeply upset. She stated,
“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.”
—Ayesha Jhulka, Actress
Support and New Opportunities
Facing the initial blow early in her journey, Jhulka credited her family’s encouragement for helping her recover. With their backing, she persevered and went on to secure her place in the industry with films like Khiladi, Massom, and Waqt Hamara Hai. As she described,
“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.”
—Ayesha Jhulka, Actress
Career Evolution and Current Ventures
Narsimha released in 1991 and became memorable for its prominent cast. Despite missing out on that role, Ayesha Jhulka built a successful career, appearing in several popular films throughout the 1990s and making notable returns in later projects such as Socha Na Tha and Umrao Jaan. Recently, she was seen demonstrating her versatility in the cooking reality series Celebrity MasterChef, showcasing her continuous presence in the entertainment world.
Impact of the Narsimha Controversy and Looking Ahead
The Dimple Kapadia and Narsimha movie controversy remains a defining moment in Ayesha Jhulka’s life, highlighting both the unpredictability and the resilience required in Bollywood. Supported by her family, she moved past initial disappointments to achieve prominent roles. The episode also underscores the challenges actors face behind the scenes and the importance of persistence amid adversity. As she continues to evolve in her career, Jhulka’s story serves as a reminder of both setbacks and hope for those pursuing their dreams.
