Ayesha Jhulka, the 90s actress, who worked with some of the biggest Bollywood stars, has stayed away from the limelight for quite some time now. As the actress turns 50, we take a look at her journey so far (All pictures courtesy: mid-day archives and Instagram)

Ayesha Jhulka was born on July 28, 1972. She is the daughter of Wing Commander Inder Kumar Jhulka, an Indian Air Force Officer.

Ayesha Jhulka was only 19 when she acted in her first full-fledged Hindi feature film. It was Kurbaan, where Ayesha starred alongside Salman Khan. But very few know that Ayesha was 11 when she made her acting debut in a film called Kaise Kaise Log (1983).

Pictured: Salman Khan and Ayesha Jhulka in a still from their film Kurbaan (1991)

Starting off as a child artiste in the 1983 film Kaise Kaise Log, Ayesha Jhulka in an old interview with mid-day had said acting was always in her wishlist. 'I was a movie buff since my childhood days. My mother used to scold me that there is a particular time to watch TV. But my father is from the Air Force, so I grew up liberally,' said Ayesha.

Starting off as a child artiste in the 1983 film Kaise Kaise Log, Ayesha Jhulka in an old interview with mid-day had said acting was always in her wishlist. 'I was a movie buff since my childhood days. My mother used to scold me that there is a particular time to watch TV. But my father is from the Air Force, so I grew up liberally,' said Ayesha.

Jhulka further added, 'I think acting came to me naturally as I used to spend a lot of time in front of the mirror wrapping my mother's scarf around me and enacting the scenes from the movies.'

Pictured: Ayesha Jhulka celebrating Diwali back in her younger days

Before Salman Khan-starrer Kurbaan, Ayesha Jhulka made her debut in the Telugu film industry with the film Neti Siddhartha, which starred Akkineni Nagarjuna.

Pictured: Ayesha Jhulka with Salman Khan in a still from their film Kurbaan (1991)

One film which is close to Ayesha Jhulka's heart is Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. In fact, Jhulka is best remembered for Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, where she starred opposite Aamir Khan.

It has been over 25 years since the release of Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, but Ayesha Jhulka has some unforgettable memories related to the film, for which she gave her best efforts and blood -- literally. In an interview with IANS, Ayesha recalled how she met with an accident while shooting for the climax of the Mansoor Khan directorial.

Ayesha Jhulka was shooting in a stadium when a nail injured her forehead. 'It was bleeding a lot and the shooting was stopped. Everyone came running and Aamir was screaming and shouting at the spot boys to get ice. He put a big block of ice on the wound and I could only see his expressions and people around,' Ayesha said. Later, she was taken to a hospital and got stitches on her forehead.

'I got a surgery done and was asked to take rest for three days, otherwise the blood would flow through my nose to my throat if I kept my head straight,' she said. Because of her injury, Ayesha heard people talking about how there would be a 'big problem' if she wouldn't be able to shoot. However, Ayesha shot for the scene with a red cap to hide her stitches.

'I told Mansoor that, 'Don't worry, I will shoot just give me something to cover these stitches'. So they gave me a red cap. I used to keep my head up just before the shoot and give expressions. Everyone used to tease me that, 'You have given blood for Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar',' said Ayesha Jhulka.

'I told Mansoor that, 'Don't worry, I will shoot just give me something to cover these stitches'. So they gave me a red cap. I used to keep my head up just before the shoot and give expressions. Everyone used to tease me that, 'You have given blood for Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar',' said Ayesha Jhulka.

Ayesha Jhulka said she has survived in the entertainment industry on her own terms and conditions, and never struggled because of work.

Pictured: Ayesha Jhulka with Akshay Kumar. The two have worked together in the hit film 'Khiladi' (1992)

'I have been very lucky that I have not struggled in the industry and never wanted to. So, I didn't want to be kicked out of the industry. I was a little selfish that way. I wanted to leave it on my own terms, and it is very difficult to say no when you are doing really well,' Ayesha told IANS.

Pictured: Ayesha Jhulka and Ajay Devgn in a still from their film Sangram (1993)

'I have been very lucky that I have not struggled in the industry and never wanted to. So, I didn't want to be kicked out of the industry. I was a little selfish that way. I wanted to leave it on my own terms, and it is very difficult to say no when you are doing really well,' Ayesha told IANS.

Pictured: Ayesha Jhulka and Ajay Devgn in a still from their film Sangram (1993)

Ayesha Jhulka is often remembered for her roles in films like Khiladi, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Waqt Hamara Hai, Hote Hote Pyar Ho Gaya, Chachi 420 and Masoom.

Pictured: Ajay Devgn and Ayesha Jhulka in a still from their film 'Sangram' (1993)

After delivering several hits in the 90s, Ayesha Jhulka took a sabbatical from Bollywood. She married businessman Sameer Vashi in 2003.

'When I got married (to Sameer Vashi), I wanted to lead a civilian's life and wanted to see the other side of the world. As I started working at a very young age (in 1983), for many years, I just worked,' she said.

Pictured: Ayesha Jhulka and Govinda in a picture from their photoshoot. The two have worked together in films like 'Brahma' and 'Ekka Raja Rani'

'After a point, I wanted to enjoy my life, I wanted to party with my friends and do a lot of things for which I have to thank my husband, who has opened that world for me which I have been enjoying all these years,' Ayesha Jhulka added.

Pictured: Ayesha Jhulka with Armaan Kohli in a vintage picture from a photo shoot

During her break, Ayesha Jhulka also went through harsh times.

Pictured: Ayesha Jhulka and Armaan Kohli have starred together in films like 'Aulad Ke Dushman' and 'Anaam'

Ayesha Jhulka was bed-ridden for some time because she had a slip disc problem. Due to this, the actress even gained a lot of weight.

Pictured: Ayesha Jhulka romancing Akshay Kumar in 'Khiladi'

It was 'out of choice' that Ayesha Jhulka didn't work in films and decided to focus on her personal life.

Pictured: Akshay and Ayesha. Besides 'Khiladi', Ayesha Jhulka has worked with Akshay Kumar in films like 'Dil Ki Baazi' and 'Jai Kishen'

'I love the film industry and want to do good work that comes my way. I have been getting lots of offers from television but I'm conditioned to doing films -- I don't know how it would be as it is about commitment and I'm a little scared to make that,' she said.

Pictured: Ayesha Jhulka and Armaan Kohli in a picture from their photo shoot

Besides Hindi films, Ayesha Jhulka has also worked in a few Telugu and Oriya films.

Pictured: When Ayesha Jhulka and Govinda 'twinned' back in the 90s

In the early 2000s, Ayesha Jhulka starred in films such as Run (as Abhishek Bachchan's on-screen sister), Socha Na Tha (as Abhay Deol's on-screen sister-in-law), Aishwarya Rai starrer Umrao Jaan (as one of the courtesans).

Pictured: Ayesha Jhulka and Ayub Khan captured in a candid moment

It was after the 2010 film ADA... A Way of Life, starring Ayaan Ahmad, Rahul Roy, and Nauheed Cyrusi, that Ayesha disappeared from filmdom.

Pictured: Ayesha Jhulka in a still from a song

Eight years later, Ayesha Jhulka made her Bollywood comeback with Anil Sharma's Genius (2018), starring newbies Utkarsh Sharma and Ishitha Chauhan, along with seasoned actors such as Mithun Chakraborty, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and K. K. Raina.

Pictured: Ayesha Jhulka with Jaaved Jaffrey (right)

Ayesha explained why she chose Genius for her Bollywood comeback. She said, 'I have not been doing much work because I felt something really nice would come my way. I signed 'Genius' out of respect and he (Anil Sharma, the director of Genius) really wanted me to do this film.'

Pictured: Ayesha Jhulka with Laxmikant Berde and Omkar Kapoor in a still from 'Masoom'

Ayesha Jhulka played the role of Nandini's (the lead actress) mother in the movie. However, the film failed to make any mark at the Box Office.

Pictured: Ayesha Jhulka from her younger days

Currently, the actress has not announced any upcoming project.

Pictured: Ayesha Jhulka's stage performance

Here's wishing a very happy birthday to Ayesha Jhulka!