COVER STORY

SUPERSTAR NEXT DOOR-

AVIKA GOR

Avika Gor, best known for her starring role in Balika Vadhu, is an Indian actress working predominantly in Telugu films and Hindi television soap operas. Her television debut was in the year 2007. She very quickly made her mark on the TV industry and won many awards for being the best child artist. Avika then jumped to movies making her Tollywood debut in the year 2013. She also won SIIMA Award for Best Female Debut (Telugu) at the 3rd South Indian International Movie Awards.

From being famously recognized as Anandi to having 8 films lined up in Tollywood, how has your journey been? Been a roller coaster I’m proud of! I look forward to learning new things every day and I’m in gratitude always for the kind of love I have been receiving for so many years. Really grateful.

How did your career in acting start? Has acting always been a passion of yours? At first, it was all just a hobby but slowly I realised cinema is what makes me feel the happiness and joy that nothing else can. And not just acting. Direction/ camera editing producing.. all these excite me equally. Acting is just the beginning. I was dancing in a mall and a casting director spotted me and that’s it! The journey began, I always wanted to be a choreographer, that’s how I entered the industry after being loved so much for my work on tv I started to focus on my craft as in the beginning it was all just a hobby as I was too young but soon after I realised the loved that I have for cinema, I would love to be in a part of the industry forever. So my love for movies is what inspired me to be a part of the industry. I’m not going to label myself just as an actress. I know I can do more and I will. I’ve already stepped into production and I truly love every bit of it.

What is the turning point in your career? Balika was definitely the turning point! No one from my family is in the field, Nobody knew how big it would get especially with Balika. They were all happy and excited and I’m blessed to have a family who is equally excited for every movie that I’m a part of. I’m nothing without my family’s support & encouragement. In the beginning, I was so naive, I didn’t even know the meaning of trips. I used to go to school and then for shoots, the practice of remembering dialogues actually helped me remember my lessons in school. So yes the earlier days were pretty exciting.

Apart from acting, what other major activities do you usually engage with? Dancing! Travelling and watching movies! I also like learning & reading a lot about filmmaking.

What are some projects that you're currently working on? •Upcoming Telugu projects “Amaran” with Aadi sai Kumar Gemini fx. #bro releasing on sony liv. Then I have the Untitled project with people media and Abhishek Agarwal - Kalyaan dev. There’s Thank you movie with Naga Chaitanya - Dil Raju producer. I also have 2 projects under my own production house and 2 more that are not announced yet. •Kazakhstan project: “I go to school” with Nurlan Koyanbayev •Hindi Project: I have shot for one with Pratik Gandhi & Manish Raisinghan- not about the release date yet.

What's the recent item you struck off of your bucket list? A trip to the Maldives! I really had a lot of fun! And I’m looking forward to travelling more soon!

Tell us about the funniest rumour you’ve heard about yourself? That I was married to my best friend Manish

What would you like to tell people who are romantically interested in you? Thank you for making me feel so important!

Tell us something that you have never told anyone else? That I’m obsessed with neon colour! I literally would want to have a house and car that is neon

When can we expect to hear wedding bells for Avika and Milind? We will let you all know when the time comes.

Stilettoes or sneakers? Sneakers

One director that you would love to work with in the future? Anurag Basu

Your celebrity crush? Diljit Dosanjh

Your biggest regret? None

Morning person or night person? Definitely morning. Love my yoga and bowl of fruits.

Three things you never leave home without? Phone, house keys, Superdry chappals

Favourite pastime? Dancing

Most used curse word? Stupid

Favourite emoji? :-*