Just Because You Are An Actress Doesn't Mean...

'I was blessed to earn a lot of fame and money, more than I ever expected, and the time has come to share what I have earned with others.'

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Ayesha Jhulka took a step away from the movies to do all the things she never had the time to when she was working in back-to-back projects as an actor.

The actor tells Rediff.​com Senior Contributor Roshmila Bhattacharya about her life beyond the movies, saying, “When you are blessed with so many interests and talents, it’s best to use them to bring you joy. It doesn’t always have to be a job that supports you.”

Your Instagram handle describes you as a ‘culinary enthusiast’. What does that mean?

(Laughs) To answer that question, let’s go back a few years.

Family and friends have always pointed out that I’m multi-talented. So one day, I decided to list out my interests and abilities, which I had not been able to explore since I was working back-to-back.

Acting is my profession, and it goes without saying that I love it, but even as a child, whenever I wandered into the kitchen and watched my grandmother or mother cook, I experienced a strange sense of fulfilment. I started experimenting with it myself and today, I enjoy healthy cooking since I’m very focused on fitness and staying healthy. Not the mundane dal-chawal stuff, I like to put together innovative dishes.

(Chuckles) I got my first compliment from my mother for a kathal ki sabzi. I had prepared because I had made the shakahari (vegetarian) jackfruit taste like mutton. When you paint, you play with colours on the canvas, right? Well, cooking for me is art on a plate.

That’s a lovely turn of phrase. Have you ever thought of taking up this interest professionally?

I have a hotel with a restaurant in Goa. I set up the kitchen 12 years ago.