Bollywood actor Ayesha Jhulka, renowned for her iconic performances in 90s hits like Kurbaan, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, and Khiladi, recently opened up in an interview with Bollywood Bubble about an emotional and eerie experience she had during the screening of her 1993 film Rang. Ayesha recalled sensing the presence of her late co-star and dear friend Divya Bharti, which left her deeply unsettled for a long time.
Ayesha Jhulka and Divya Bharti’s Close Bond
Reflecting on her bond with Divya, Ayesha shared, “We were shooting for Rang, and this whole incident happened. When I was dubbing for that film—she was playing my sister in it—we were very close. Even on other sets, she used to come and be with me. She would get the same shoes she got for me, and I was shooting for one of the songs when she said, ‘Wait, wait, you’re not wearing a bindi.’ She went into her room and got me a bindi.”
Ayesha and Divya played sisters in Rang, which also starred Kamal Sadanah, Jeetendra, Amrita Singh, Kader Khan, and Bindu in pivotal roles. Tragically, Divya Bharti passed away before the film’s release, leaving a void in the industry and in Ayesha’s life.
Ayesha Felt Divya’s Presence During Rang Screening
Recalling the chilling experience during the film’s preview, Ayesha said, “So we had that nice bonding, you know, and when I was dubbing for that film, I just couldn’t dub that scene together wala. I was crying, howling, and you know, the dubbing had to be postponed. So all that happened, and then we had a preview at Film City."
She continued, "Outdoor me preview kiya tha unhone screen lagake, and the moment Divya came on the screen, the screen fell, and I immediately felt her presence… but I couldn’t sleep for a very long time after that. It shook me.” (There was an outdoor preview in Film City, the moment Divya appeared on screen, the screen suddenly fell, and I immediately felt her presence.)
About Ayesha Jhulka
Ayesha Jhulka made her Bollywood debut alongside Salman Khan in the 1991 film Kurbaan, which became a major success and catapulted her to fame. Her career gained further momentum with her stellar performance in Khiladi opposite Akshay Kumar, followed by memorable roles in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar with Aamir Khan and Dalaal with Mithun Chakraborty. With a career spanning over three decades, Ayesha has appeared in more than 60 films, leaving a lasting impression on Bollywood audiences.