Talk of Indian television's youngest bahu and you are reminded of the chirpy Avika Gor who has become a household name and enjoys a celebrity status so early in life. The 11-year-old who plays the role of young Anandi on Colors' Balika Vadhu will soon be replaced by one of the three short-listed candidates waiting for the audience's votes.
Avika, in a telephonic conversation from Mumbai, shares she had a memorable experience working in the serial. “When I was told about the role I will have to play, I was a little apprehensive of how people are going to take it — in a positive way or negative. Thankfully, they have taken it positively. And, the experience has been wonderful.” Asked about the reason why she is not continuing , she replies, “I want to continue but the story demands a leap.”
It was indeed a challenging role to play but Avika says she “liked the character itself” and that made her work easier as also the fact that Anandi and Avika are “bilkul same” in her words. The eighth grader who has never attended any acting classes feels her life has changed completely after she started playing this role. “People recognise me when they see me out on the road. They also call me by different names from the serial: Anandi, Chuhiya… Everybody has loved me as Anandi and it feels really great!”
Young Avika's family and school helped her tackle the hectic schedule. She attended school in the morning and went for shoots after class. “Also, when sometimes, it became necessary to miss classes, the school has been very supportive. I took class notes from my friends to make up,” she shares. But what does Avika love doing when she is neither studying nor shooting? “I like dancing a lot. I also play with friends during free time and love to talk to them.”
Exploring opportunities
It is now time for Avika to explore other opportunities. However, she does not want to talk much about her future. “When things get finalised , I will tell you,”she says like a veteran, rather cutely. She confesses she will miss the cast and crew of Balika Vadhu a lot but in the same breath adds she will go and meet them whenever she misses them too much! However, the young Jagdish would not be there on the sets, isn't it? “We are in the same school!” she exclaims. Asked who among the three short-listed candidates is her personal favourite, she signs off , “I like all three.”
