Jul 21, 2026 5:30pm IST
Avika Gor on 18 Years of ‘Balika Vadhu’: ‘It Taught Me That Storytelling Can Genuinely Influence Society’ (EXCLUSIVE)
“Balika Vadhu” has a special place in the history of Indian TV shows centered around social themes. Over the years, it has earned praise for its nuanced, sensitive and realistic portrayal of the aftermath of child marriages. On the show’s 18th anniversary, Avika Gor, who played the young Anandi from 2008 to 2010, tells Variety India that it not only gave her a head start in life but also shaped her as a person. ‘Balika Vadhu’ aired its first episode on July 21, 2008, bringing alive the poignant story of Anandi and her journey as a child bride.
Gor, who was 11 years old when she acted in the show, says, “I grew up with Anandi, and in many ways, the audience grew up with me. The show gave me an identity, but more importantly, it taught me that storytelling can genuinely influence society. Even today, people across generations remember Anandi with so much love, and that’s incredibly special.”
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The actor says she cannot single out a single memory as the “most special one” from her journey as Anandi. Terming the sets of the show as her acting school, she further shares, “I was so young when I started acting that I learned everything there, from facing the camera and understanding emotions to observing incredibly talented actors and technicians at work every single day. The love, discipline, patience, and values I absorbed during those years have stayed with me throughout my career. It’s a chapter I’ll always cherish because it laid the foundation for the actor and the person I am today,” she says.
Pratyusha Banerjee played the grown-up Anandi, and Toral Rasputra took over the role in later years. After Balika Vadhu, Avika Gor successfully transitioned from a child actor to a leading lady on the TV show “Sasural Simar Ka.” She then built a strong career in Telugu cinema, while also working in Kannada and Hindi projects.
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“Balika Vadhu,” with its theme of child marriage, also highlighted the complexities of gender politics in a family dynamic. She feels the show’s commentary is also relevant today. “I absolutely think the show still matters. ‘Balika Vadhu’ was never about men versus women. It was about questioning harmful traditions, encouraging empathy and creating space for change. The core message was equality, dignity and giving every individual, especially women, the right to choose their own future. Those conversations are still relevant, just in different forms. If anything, the show reminds us that progress comes through dialogue and understanding, not division.”
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