HT Brunch Cover Story: It’s all in the genes

30 years ago, Bhagyashree quit her career to bring up Abhimanyu and Avantika. Now successful actors themselves, here’s what her millennial kids have to say.

Bhagyashree walks in, looking timeless. Thirty-three years have passed since the now 53-year-old real-life princess became the queen of hearts with her film debut as Suman in Maine Pyar Kiya, but she looks just the same. Mention this and Abhimanyu, 32, her actor son, quips: “That is because she has amazing kids like us! We don’t stress her out. That is the secret of her timeless beauty. We deserve the credit!” Happiness could well be the reason for Bhagyashree’s radiance. The actor-mom is here with her two actor kids for a photoshoot, their first together for a magazine, and she’s almost vibrating with pride. After all, she renounced her film career to bring them up and be the mother she thought they deserved. And now here they are, all three of them actors together.

Neither Abhimanyu nor Avantika asked their mother, actor Bhagyashree, for help as they started their acting careers (Subi Samuel)

Bhagyashree says her advice to her kids is: Be respectful to everyone. Even the most inconsequential person can make the biggest difference. Each blessing counts; Stylist (for Abhimanyu): Rhea Rao; Hair: Sanjeeda Shaikh; Hair (for Avantika): Vrinda Rajput; Make-up: Karishma Bajaj; Jewellery: Amrapali & Vandals (Subi Samuel)

Abhimanyu and Avantika talk about their mom

Bhagyashree’s experiences of the viciousness of film magazines—the social media of her time—put her in a good position to help her children through the toxicity of trolls; Avantika’s outfit by Arushi Rawal (Subi Samuel)

Quick questions with Bhagyashree