Honda Accord VTi-L A/T
She loved it when her boyfriend drove her around in an Accord. So actress Ayesha Takia bought one of her own.

‘FOR ME DRIVING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CHILLING-OUT EXPERIENCE.’

WHAT LUCK! Here was a chance to meet one of the most pretty actresses on Indian silver screen and our snapper Asif has to go ahead and fix up an appointment minus me, complete the shoot and conveniently explain ‘our reporter will do the interview on the phone’. Thanks buddy. But next time, no thanks... please.
Anyway, let me get to the point — the purpose for our conver-sation with Ayesha Takia and her car habits.
To the uninformed, she’s now had a string of movies (not to forget ads and music videos) to her credit. They weren’t really been box-office money-churners but have brought Ayesha recognition as a talented actress. She loves to talk, like most girls in their late teens would, but the good part is she talks sense.
The case in point of using the head as much as the heart quite aptly reflected in her current choice of wheels, an automatic Accord which arrived at the Takia household just three weeks before we interviewed her.
“I very much knew I wanted a Honda Accord,” she crackled earnestly over the phone. “I asked a couple of my acquaintances who told me it’s a good car. I’ve been in it quite often because of my boyfriend (who also happens to own a Honda Accord — same spec, same colour) and I really liked it. So I thought this is the car to go for.”
Coming from an affluent family, cars have always been part of her life. She’s been barely street-legal to drive but jumps at every opportunity she happens to get while shooting for her films.
Talking of which, she had an interesting debut on the big screen. Her first release was Tarzan — The Wonder Car the story of a snazzy, ‘thinking’ car, which helps the hero to exact revenge on his father’s killers. Based loosely on the much-popular Herbie series of Hollywood, Tarzan was originally a Toyota MR2 transformed by DC Design into a purple powerpack that could ‘do it all’.
“They (directors Abbas-Mustan) were trying to make an experimental kind of film,” she explained about her choice for her debut film in which a car was going to be the central character. “People are always interested in cars and I thought, why not? I wanted to work with directors like them. It was fun.” And she maintains that she never really thought about the fact that the car was going to be the central character of the movie.
“I never really thought of that. I just go ahead with whatever makes me happy.”
And it looks like Hondas are able to do that. Ayesha’s first car — the one she bought from her own earnings — was the New City, now aptly followed by the sleek Accord. A change of status, I presume. . .
“Everybody buys cars they can afford,” says Ayesha. “You buy what practically suits your lifestyle right now and whenever you can upgrade, you do that. Obviously, cars, houses and things you travel in are definitely status symbols but I don’t think that’s the only thing you look at while buying a vehicle.
“For me life has always been like that. When I started Tarzan, there were a few days when my Cielo had broken down and I went by taxi for two three days. For me, my life is what I can afford right now.” Point taken.
Okay cars may not be her in her blood but she appreciates and knows their importance.
“It’s a vital part of our lives, especially a working person’s life when you are always on the move. In fact I look forward to buying a car every three years. It’s special now because when you buy a car on your own, it feels really good. It’s the best part actually.”
By this time I probably understand what makes her car senses tick and can’t help but get this feeling that her next car will be the one with a three-pointed star.
“Next car, I don’t know, probably a Mercedes. . .” Bingo!
“For me driving is always a chilling-out experience. I spend a lot of time in my car driving around from place to place. And even when I am not shooting, I love to go on long drives. So that’s the kind of cars I like. If I want to have fun, I’ll probably hop onto a bike!”
Bike!? Did she say bike?
“Yes, I love bikes. I’m crazy about them. . .”
Going by her tastes, my guess is she’ll fall for a cruiser ride. Following this disclosure, a couple of my colleagues were desperately hoping that Harley-Davidson would hasten its entry into India. Relax guys. On this, you’ll probably have to deal with me first. As for Asif. . . I’ll deal with you later.