Hard times have been my greatest teachers: Ayesha Thapar

She is one of the most eligible single women in India. And though entrepreneur and style diva Ayesha Thapar may have experienced a personal crisis as her marriage with Turkish tycoon Engin Yesil broke down, those difficult times helped her grow more as a person.

“My hard times have been my greatest teachers. I never run from the pain of hard times, I allow it to penetrate my soul so I can use the pain to become a better, wiser and more humble person. I also never hold on to things or dwell in the past,” says Ayesha.

Speaking about the kind of men that attract her, she says, “I like a man who has strong principles and a strong sense of self worth. He must have a good sense of humour and be generous. Most importantly, I should have a great chemistry with him.”

So where lies her sex appeal? “My sex appeal lies in the manner in which I carry myself and in the fact that I am in tune with who I am. Being sexy has nothing to do with showing one’s skin but rather being comfortable in it,” she says.

Ayesha may have a great lineage having born in the illustrious Thapar family of Delhi, but she has always been known for her individuality.

Having been in the business circuit for over 12 years — which included launching her own jewellery line and making a foray into the telecom sector in the US — Ayesha is now looking to expand her business in India. “I made a decision to come back to India as I believed I would be able to make a greater difference if I took my own family business to the next level,” she says.

Business is what she had wanted to do since she was a 12-year-old kid. “Doing what you love is not work, it’s luxury. I have projects coming up in Mumbai, Kolkata, Goa, Varanasi and Delhi. These products will speak for themselves when they are ready, I won’t have to,” she ends.