The teenage TV star will be appearing in Sasural Simar Ka as a banjaran named Jhumki who dances to Mera Piya Ghar Aaya. She chats with D Kaushik
Playing with her dolls in the sand dunes, being studious and mischievous in her role as child bride in Balika Vadhu made Avika Gor shine on television. But those used to seeing her as Anandi were surprised when a grown up Anandi replaced Avika. And the child artist’s next show was Sasural Simar Ka on Colors, where she was presented as 18-year-old Roli. Many questioned the role choice, but Avika declared it was challenging. “People took time to adjust to the shift, but eventually they appreciated my effort.”
Now there is a twist in the tale. Roli’s role is over.
Avika is still part of the show, in a completely new avatar, as a Rajasthani girl, Jhumki who is Roli’s look alike. “I will be presented as a banjaran and a street dancer. I get a chance to dance to Madhuri Dixit’s song, Mera Piya Ghar Aaya. Jhumki is different from Roli. She is more bubbly. And people will see me in Rajasthani attire again,” shared Avika, adding that she looks forward to dance in her shows. “I have been learning dance since the age of four. I learnt ballet, salsa and tango. Bollywood and contemporary dance is my favourite. I didn’t like the fact that Roli would end, till I learnt that Jhumki was interesting.”
Talking about the end of the previous role she said, “Roli dies at the hands of Veeru, the show’s villain. During her wedding sequence with him, after repeated attempts by her sister Simran to remind her of the past, Roli gets her memory back. This infuriates Veeru who pulls out a gun to shoot Simar. To save her sister, Roli comes in between and is killed. Everyone rushes her to the hospital but she eventually takes her last breath.”
Avika recently finished her class ten exams and said it was easy as she got 10 days leave from her shooting schedule. Her mother is particular that she studies seriously. “I was 10 when I began to play Anandi. I never missed my studies then. Over the years I have trained myself to study even during shoots. I try and complete my course in advance so it’s easier to take exams. Academics is a necessity. Acting is my hobby. I am lucky I got to do what I am passionate about at an early age. It doesn’t mean I will neglect my studies. But when people ask if I won’t act in future to complete my studies I say that it’s tough to give your passion away. If you will ask a cricketer who is 16, if he will leave playing the game to study, I think he would say he will continue both,” she said. Though she wanted to stay tight-lipped about offers in the future, she revealed that she has a few Bollywood projects which will be announced soon.