Feb 26, 2026 9:00am IST
‘It Is Not Necessary to Show Intimacy That Will Make You Squirm’: Bhagyashree (EXCLUSIVE)
Bhagyashree, who celebrated her birthday recently, will soon be seen in Riteish Deshmukh’s “Raja Shivaji.” The “Maine Pyar Kiya” actress has resumed working in films and OTT and says that she does not want to rest on her laurels. Excerpts from a conversation with Variety India….
With several senior actors doing remarkable work across television and OTT today, does this evolving landscape excite you? How do you continue to reinvent yourself as a performer?
These are exciting times with diverse platforms and manifold stories being written and the exploration of women characters, where originally men were cast. However, people still see me as Suman from “Maine Pyar Kiya,” and though I feel super blessed, I don't want to rest on past laurels. In 2023, I did “Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video”, where I played the antagonist. It was a complete surprise for people to see me in that avatar. I am waiting eagerly to explore more so that I can continue to reinvent myself.
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Today’s actresses seamlessly balance career and personal lives. Do you feel that public perception around married actresses in the early ’90s posed a challenge for women wanting to continue working post marriage?
Of course, back then, the stories were also driven by more patriarchal characters. The working woman is a new concept for society even today, and with more educated women stepping into fields that were male-dominated, there is a paradigm shift in society. It has changed the notion of how women are perceived. And it’s great to see even men encouraging and supporting women to work post-marriage.
You have teamed up with Jackie Shroff for your upcoming movie. How did your creative dynamic shape up on set?
Dada, as everyone fondly calls him, is so much fun on set. He was constantly pulling my leg apart from continuously complaining that I shouldn't have left films... to which my retort was ... ‘well, this is just the beginning!’
You’re currently working on a project with Riteish Deshmukh. As co-stars and fellow Maharashtrians, did that shared cultural background help you bond in any way?
I am over the moon that I have had the opportunity to play such a revered and strong character from our Indian history. Riteish (Deshmukh) came to me with a lot of research and an in-depth study of the character. It was such a huge help in interpreting the written character sketch of Jija Bai (an intrepid woman, resolute yet compassionate) into what you shall witness on screen. And yes, the Marathi background helped in portraying certain behavioral traits of a woman from that royal lineage.
Your son, Abhimanyu Dassani, received acclaim for his debut in “Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota.” What advice did you give him before he entered the industry?
I gave Abhimanyu advice as any mother would... to be focused and diligent at his work and respectful to everyone around him, no matter what their social status or hierarchy. But I do admit, his work surprised me. I felt proud that he could deal with the complexities of his character with such finesse.
The ’90s were known for wholesome family entertainers, whereas today’s cinema embraces greater intimacy and realism. What changes in the current storytelling landscape do you appreciate, and are there any that you don’t like?
Cinema reflects society. In the 90s, it was the only entertainment, the only outing that gave a family the chance to spend time together. Today, families have become nuclear, people are more individualistic and mediums of creative art have become multifold. The choices, therefore, are many too. However, it has become impossible to please every type of audience. Films have split into cliques, genres, indie, art films, etc. I genuinely feel that while realism is the new market, it is not necessary to show intimacy that will make you squirm while sitting with your parents or children. Stories can be bold, diverse and interesting without being defiant to society.
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