Stardom & scrutiny

Avantika Dassani talks about her mother Bhagyashree's stardom, criticism around 'star kids' getting easier access in Bollywood and social media trolling

- Ria Sharma

Actress Bhagyashree's daughter Avantika Dassani, who made her acting debut with the web series Mithya in 2022, is back with the second season of the show. She reprised her role of Rhea Rajguru in the show which was recently released on an OTT platform. In an exclusive interview with The Free Press Journal, Avantika opened up about her passion for acting, her mother's stardom and social media trolling. Excerpts:

Q. Your mother and brother (Abhimanyu Dassani) have made a name for themselves in the industry. How do you define your space and identity amid the legacy of the family?

A. I am extremely proud of both my mother and brother, and I hope I can make my way into the audiences' hearts and minds just as they have. I think as long as I keep working hard and making interesting choices that enable me to experiment and improve as an actor, I'll be able to create my own path. It's important to see what's really in front of you, what's working and not, what am I enjoying, what feeds me instead of making up limitations or certain ideas in my head. If I work with intent and courage, and hopefully have luck on my side, I think I will be able to.

Q. When was the first time you realised that your mother is a star?