Avantika Dassani, daughter of the beloved actress Bhagyashree, offers a unique perspective on the legacy of the iconic Bollywood film ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’, starring her mother alongside Salman Khan. The film, released in 1989, is a cornerstone of Hindi cinema, lauded for its engaging narrative and captivating performances. Today, Avantika Dassani, who is carving her own path in the entertainment industry, reflects on her experiences growing up with a mother who embodied a role that touched millions.
As Avantika steps into the limelight with the new season of her web series ‘Mithya’, she opens up about the profound influence of her mother’s debut film. “I watched ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ when I was in school,” she shares in an exclusive conversation with mid-day.com. Despite its joyous and romantic storyline, Avantika found it challenging to sit through all of her mother’s emotional scenes. “The thought of seeing my mom upset or crying on screen was unsettling. It was hard to separate the reel from the real,” she explains. “You don’t understand it fully as a child, and it just makes you upset. That’s why I avoided watching the film for a long time.”
Avantika’s reluctance to watch her mother’s cinematic work extended to the portrayal of relationships onscreen. With childlike humor, she recalls, “The idea, you know – that’s not my father,” she laughs. In more serious tones, she admits that reconciling her mother’s film life with her real family life took some time. “You grow up in a reality where your father is very much present at home,” she notes. “At a young age, it’s just a bit unnerving to adjust to these fictional narratives.
. But it’s not an issue; it’s just one of those things you quickly move past.”
Despite her initial hesitation to delve into her mother’s early career, Avantika witnessed firsthand the overwhelming impact ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ had on audiences. During family holidays, she observed how fans eagerly approached Bhagyashree for autographs and pictures, driven by a sense of nostalgia and admiration. “Even now, people come up to me, especially on set, sharing their personal stories connected to the film. They tell me they’ve watched it multiple times, danced to its songs, or collected its memorabilia. It’s fascinating how a film can become such a memorable part of people’s lives.”
Such stories reflect ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’s enduring charm and its ability to resonate with generations. Avantika’s recollections also reveal an affectionate anecdote highlighting her protective nature as a child. She recounts a cherished tale passed down in her family about how she once interrupted a shooting scene, where her mother was in distress, being ‘attacked’ by a villain. “Apparently, a 6-ft tall man was throwing my mom to the ground, and little me rushed in, furiously confronting him, declaring, ‘Meri mummy ko chor do’ (Let go of my mother),” Avantika chuckles as she recounts the story.
Avantika recognizes that such tales illustrate the blend of real and reel life: a balance she has come to embrace. As she navigates her own journey in the entertainment industry, the legacy of her mother’s work continues to inspire her. “It’s amazing to see how my mother’s work still resonates with people and creates a shared cultural memory,” she says proudly.
Looking ahead, Avantika is keen on crafting her own narrative within the entertainment world, aware of the inevitable comparisons but determined to forge her distinct identity. Her reflections on her mother’s career remind us of the timeless connection between cinema and personal memory, demonstrating the enduring legacy that films leave on both the stars involved and those who grow up around them.
In revisiting ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’, Avantika Dassani finds not just the story of her mother’s fame, but a thread woven into the fabric of public sentiment—a legacy she acknowledges with both pride and a deep personal connection.
