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Big screen dreams

Smile of success Avika Gor

As ‘Beendni’, the youngest and the most popular bahu of television, she’s won hearts. “I get recognised and have people walk up to me and ask if I am Beendni. Though people see me on television, I am excited about my first fil m and the reaction it will get,” says Avika Gor of Baalika Vadhu, who will debut in Morning Walk, as Anupam Kher’s granddaughter. “I enjoyed the part of Gargi, a school-going girl who loves her grandfather and even fights for his sake to her mother, Divya Dutta,” says Avika, who has just turned 12.

Her friends in school are used to her small screen avatar but to be seen in a feature film is a different experience altogether, she says. “My friends are waiting to see how I fare in the film,” she giggles. Morning Walk also stars Sharmila Tagore, Divya Dutta, Shayan Munshi and newcomer Nargis.

After Morning Walk, Avika has Paathshaala with Shahid Kapur as well. “He is a music teacher and I am one among his students. I signed both these films before Baalika Vadhu happened. The directors had seen my previous television serials,” she says. Ask her if her role underwent changes to give her more screen time after her television success and she says, “Not really. I only did what was expected of me in the role according to the scripts.”

Working for films, she feels, is not much different from working for serials. “I shoot only for four hours a day, as per the regulation for child actors. I don’t bunk classes. I shoot only after school time. In fact, I am quite good at studies,” she insists. Avika loves the spot light and wants to do more films. “When I grow up I want to be a model, if possible Miss Universe and definitely continue being an actress,” she says. Are there more films in the pipeline? “I don’t know. Maybe there are talks. My father would know. He takes the decisions,” she says, dispelling notions that her answers might be rehearsed.

When she is not acting or studying, she enjoys dancing (“I learnt western dance as a child and really enjoy it”) and “eating”.

A step in the right direction towards her long-term tinsel town dream is her plan to enrol in Anupam Kher’s acting school. “I shot a number of scenes with him and he used to give me acting tips. I might join his acting school during vacations,” she says.

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