Patna: Once a budding engineer, now a rising star – Ayesha Eman’s path from the classrooms of aeronautical engineering to the sets of feature films is anything but conventional. Currently shooting in her hometown of Patna for her upcoming film Bihaan, Eman has emerged as one of Bihar’s most promising faces in Indian cinema.
Eman, who represented India at the Miss International pageant in Japan after winning Miss India International in 2015, has since worked with Bollywood icons like Shah Rukh Khan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni in advertising campaigns. She is also set to appear alongside actors Ravi Kishan and Randeep Hooda in future projects including Inspector Avinash Season 2 and AK-47.
But it all began with a twist of fate.
“Papa Sent My Photos Without Telling Me”
Eman recounted how her father, Krishna Prasad, a businessman, secretly submitted her photos to the Miss India contest. “I didn’t even know,” she recalled. “I was watching the serial Mahadev when the call came saying I had been selected. I thought it was a prank.”
The call turned out to be real – and within three days, she was on her way to Mumbai. Encouraged by her parents, including her mother, a member of the judicial services, Eman embraced the opportunity.
From Runways to Reels
Modelling assignments soon followed, eventually landing her a break in Madhur Bhandarkar’s India Lockdown – not as a crew member, but in front of the camera. “I had asked to join as an assistant director, but he told me to audition instead,” Eman said. “I was shocked when he cast me.”
That initial nervousness nearly got the better of her. “During my first scene, I was so scared it showed on my face,” she admitted. But Bhandarkar’s advice stuck with her: “You’re from Bihar – what are you afraid of?” It was the motivation she needed to push through.
Pride, Prejudice, and Perseverance
While her parents stood firmly by her side, not everyone approved. Hailing from a conservative neighbourhood in Patna, Eman faced criticism from relatives for wearing short clothes and choosing a career in modelling.
“My mother shielded me from most of it,” she said. “She’s always been fiercely protective. I never had to face those taunts directly.”
Despite societal judgment, Eman remains undeterred. “I still love airports, planes and everything aeronautics,” she said. “But life had other plans – and I’m grateful for where it’s taken me.”
