Avika Gor, who started as a child artiste on TV in the show Balika Vadhu has been in the news in recent times, after she refused to endorse fairness creams. “Unfortunately, we have been fed the wrong notion when it comes to the idea of an ideal beauty standard. Over the years, we have seen many advertisements where being fair is considered to be beautiful and I have never been comfortable with this idea, as your skin tone cannot determine your talent. As an actor, it was a conscious decision to not degrade anyone, but to send out the right message. Beauty is all about being comfortable and happy in your skin,” says Avika. In a candid chat with BT, the actress also spoke about how her life has transformed in the recent times, especially after meeting the love of her life, Milind Chandwani.

The actress surprised many with her transformation last year; she says it wasn’t an easy journey though. Avika says, “There was a time when I was appreciated for my work but I still doubted my talent, felt ugly and didn’t like what I saw in the mirror. I couldn’t figure out where I was going wrong and it took me two-three years to get rid of my weight. Initially, I would become very impatient as I wanted instant results and would be left disappointed. But the day I shifted my perspective, it all changed. I started working out, eating right and kept myself mentally happy. Along with my body, I also had to train my mind to be patient and persistent. Slowly, I started pushing my limits and was amazed by the remarkable results.”

Bollywood is on Avika’s mind, but she says before that she would like to pick up the relevant experience, and hence is currently focussing on Telugu films. She says, “Telugu cinema experiments a lot with content and this has definitely helped me in becoming a better actor.” Avika adds, “I was offered my first Telugu film Uyyala Jampala in 2013 when I was shooting for Sasural Simar Ka. Initially, there was a language barrier and working in a new environment was difficult. However, when I saw the result, I was very happy. After my last movie in 2019, I shot for a few films, which are ready for release.”

Avika and Milind Chandwani (he appeared on Roadies Real Heroes in 2019 and runs an NGO in Hyderabad) made their relationship public last year, and since then, they have never shied away from expressing affection for each other on their social media handles. “Milind holds a very important place in my life. He has really helped me to evolve as a person. He makes me feel very special,” she says. Is there a wedding on the cards? “Milind and I are very spontaneous individuals. When we decided to make our relationship official, we didn’t give it much thought. We both were very sure of each other. Just like that, when we are ready to settle down, we will just do it and surprise everyone,” she signs off.