Avika’s new avatar on TV

Balika Vadhu’s child bride Avika Gor steps in as second lead in an upcoming urban daily.

Balika Vadhu’s child bride Avika Gor, popularly known as Anandi, will now essay the role of a teenaged Bollywood buff, Roli, in Sasural Simar Ka, an upcoming daily soap on Colors. The show is expected to go on air towards the second half of April.

The actor, also seen in Sahara One’s Young Jourknows, is supposedly the second lead in show, which is a light-hearted family drama. The promos have already hit airwaves with leading lady Deepika Samson, who debuted in the Imagine daily, Devi, along with Bollywood character artiste Pankaj Dheer, who plays her father.

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“This character is extremely different from what I’ve played so far. Anandi was a little girl from a remote Rajasthani village, who’s intelligent and bright, but doesn’t speak out of turn. Her life revolved around her husband Jagya (Avinash Mukherji) and her family. Here, I’m playing an outspoken teenager in a cosmopolitan city. Roli loves Hindi masala films, and is hugely inspired by them,” chirps Avika, who’s expecting her class eight results today. “Her life revolves around them, she even copies the costumes, lingo and style statements from movies. It’s going to be fun because I love watching Bollywood films.”

Last year, Avika was replaced by newcomer Pratyusha Bannerjee when Balika Vadhu, took a five-year leap. “I had to focus on my studies. So, I welcomed the break,” says Avika, who has lost a couple of kilos to get into the skin of her character. “But I love acting and I had always wanted to pursue it further, whenever I land a chance. I performed on various stage shows organised by Colors. And now, I can’t wait to go back to the studios.”