Last July, producer Himalay Dassani had shared his plan of making The Lion Of Galwan, a movie on Vir Chakra awardee Sepoy Gurtej Singh who lost his life in the 2020 India-China military clash in Galwan Valley (Gung-ho about Galwan, July 22). But almost a year on, things have taken a turn. As India and China witness a tactical thaw in their relations, the producer told mid-day that the film — which was to be led by actor and his son Abhimanyu Dassani — has been indefinitely postponed.

This isn’t the first on-screen offering to be impacted by the easing of the two countries’ hostilities. Salman Khan’s Maatrubhumi: May War Rest In Peace, originally titled Battle Of Galwan, has reportedly been reshot.

Speaking to mid-day from Tashkent, Himalay said that if he chooses to go ahead with The Lion of Galwan, he will have to follow a certain process. “The India-China relationship is much better today. So, we’ll have to revisit the story idea. After we complete the script, we will have to submit it to the Ministry of Defence of India, before we begin shooting. Also, we have received a directive from them that there cannot be China-bashing. So, we need to revisit that angle.”

Is he open to reworking the narrative? To the producer, it’s a futile exercise. “If we are not going to get a clearance from the Defence Ministry, there will be no point in telling the story of the Galwan battle as we can’t show the correct angle. If the fight and the reasons behind [the clash] are non-existent, what is the use of making a movie on it? So, we have kept it on the backburner.”

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Abhimanyu Dassani, who was to portray Sepoy Gurtej Singh in ‘The Lion Of Galwan’, has instead turned his attention to a film that will roll later this year. Himalay Dassani further revealed, “We are also looking at an intense love story for him.”

Bhagyashree, Salman Khan’s first leading lady from Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), looks back at her journey with the superstar and reflects on how much and how little he has changed over the years. From their early days on set to reuniting decades later in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (2023), she says Salman continues to hold a special place in her life.

Recalling their bond from the very beginning, Bhagyashree says Salman always had a rare balance of fun and responsibility. “In those days, Salman was a total prankster. But we bonded as friends, and he was very protective of me. That hasn’t changed,” she shares.

She adds that even during the early years of her marriage, Salman remained a constant presence. “He was a mix of fun and maturity. While he would be pranking someone or the other all the time, he was also the steadfast friend one would want. He would regularly ask me after my marriage if I was okay, knowing I did not have my family with me at that time.”

That sense of care, she says, has extended to her family over the years. Speaking about their reunion on Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, Bhagyashree shares, “On the sets of the film, the way he took care of me, my husband Himalaya ji, and our son Abhimanyu was amazing. Over the years, I know we have grown in different directions and therefore do not meet often, but ever since he met Abhimanyu, he has always kept track of him and his work. And it works both ways. Abhimanyu also likes to share his journey with Salman and take advice from time to time. Salman has always been special. Back then and now, for me, my first hero will never change.”

Bhagyashree also points out a softer side of Salman that many may not be fully aware of. “One thing that has come to light over the years is his bonding with kids. He loves them. He dotes on his nieces and nephews.”

Reflecting on how life has shaped him, she notes visible changes in his temperament. She says, “Salman was livelier and more fun-loving then. He has become more serious now. Life has thrown a lot of oddballs at him, and because of that, he has become more closed off. He vibes only with people who are closest to him.”

She also addresses how his larger-than-life presence is often misunderstood. “People get intimidated by the aura that surrounds Salman the moment he walks in. I do not think he does anything to make people uncomfortable. He is just himself. He does not create noise or any hoo-ha about his entry, but because there are always people around him, everyone knows he has arrived. He has simply become quieter than he was earlier,” she concludes.

Asked what makes Salman an enduring brand beyond box office numbers and superstardom, Bhagyashree attributes it to something far more intangible. “Blessings and duas he gets from all the people he has helped over the years. There are loads of people who swear by his generosity. I think kindness begets blessings,” she says.

India and China’s military clash that took place at Galwan Valley in June 2020 has caught the attention of many filmmakers. While Salman Khan is headlining Apoorva Lakhia’s Battle Of Galwan, actor Rahul Roy’s film LAC Battle Of Galwan is streaming on YouTube. Now, mid-day has learnt that producer and businessman Himalay Dassani — husband of Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) actor Bhagyashree — is offering a retelling with Vir Chakra awardee Sepoy Gurtej Singh’s story at the centre. Tentatively titled The Lion of Galwan, the movie will see Himalay’s son Abhimanyu Dassani, who featured in Meenakshi Sundareshwar (2021), step into the martyr’s role. 

“It’s the life story of Sepoy Gurtej Singh. I was intrigued, so I traced his family down to his village, Mansa, in Punjab, and acquired Gurtej’s biopic rights from his parents,” begins Himalay, elaborating, “The story will be divided into three parts — Gurtej’s early days, the Galwan skirmish, and the stance that the Indian government took against the Chinese incursions.”

On the night of June 15, 2020, Singh’s unit was deployed in eastern Ladakh close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC), when rising tensions between the Indian and Chinese armies led to a violent clash that was fought using sticks and clubs. Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, commanding officer of 16 Bihar regiment, Singh, and 18 other soldiers were martyred. Himalay reveals that research on the project is underway.

“We have two teams in Chandigarh and Delhi doing research with the cooperation of the various ministries, government, and the Indian Army. We will also cover how the foreign and defence ministries cooperated on that night, how our brave boys battled it out bare-handed in that icy night. The shoot will begin in Ladakh early next year.” He is currently in talks with three directors, of whom one will be finalized soon.

Mention that Khan’s Battle Of Galwan focuses on the same episode, and Himalay is unperturbed. He reasons, “It’s like making a movie on the Indo-Pak war. There are so many angles and stories to each battle. It will be great to see Salman essay Colonel Santosh Babu. We cannot shoot before early 2026 because it will be freezing during the winters. That will also give us time to work more on our film.”

Growing up, actors Abhimanyu Dassani and Avantika Dassani were surrounded by “a half dozen cousins”. However, amid all the chaos, the two always found support in each other. “Avantika means the world to me,” says Abhimanyu, and Avantika says, “Abhimanyu plays an important role in my journey.” Ask them if there’s an on-screen pair that they resonate the most with, and the duo quip: Ross-Monica (F.R.I.E.N.D.S) and David-Alexis (Schitts Creek).

One of the earliest memories of Avantika having a rock-solid brother was when she was four and the entire family was on a trip to Singapore. “It was our first holiday abroad. Abhimanyu was just nine. Our parents (actor Bhagyashree and businessman Himalay Dassani) had fed us dinner and put us to bed so they could go out and enjoy their evening. However, a few hours later, I woke up hungry. Abhimanyu and I decided to take matters into our own hands and went down to the hotel cafe to order some dal chawal for me. He even fed me himself, not knowing that our parents were sitting right there and watching us in amazement,” Avantika remembers.

A blushing Abhimanyu chimes in, “That moment always brings a smile to my face as it reminds me of the bond and care we share as siblings.”

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Avantika: He is the Sundar you are looking for.

Abhimanyu: Boys break trust, but my brother breaks jaws.

Avantika: I like his perseverance, dislike his untidiness and tolerate his sense of humour.

Abhimanyu: I adore Avantika’s kindness, enjoy her sense of humour, tolerate her weirdness.

Avantika Dasani, daughter of actress Bhagyashree, was in Lucknow recently. Avantika, who debuted on the OTT this year, talked about her relationship with her mother and how she plans to make her mark in the industry. Calling herself an ‘OTT Baby’, she says, “I am very excited to see where the web space takes me. Characters that we see on the web are not all goody two shoes. OTT gives you a lot more than what commercial cinema does. There is room being made for everyone and yes, I am very excited about that. The kind of stories, the character, the engagement, that is something that is really exciting. Also, it is a platform where there are different types of people, there isn’t any age barrier, look barrier or anything to be an OTT star. You have to be good at what you do as an actor. Take for example Raveena (Tandon) and Sushmita (Sen) ma’am, who are doing awesome stuff on OTT.”

Just like her mom, Avantika also has drawn some lines for herself for the kind of roles she would like to do. “I don’t like to use the word bold when it comes to such content. However, if ever I do such a scene, there has to be a proper reasoning for that. My openness to doing ‘bold’ stuff in films or OTT definitely has a lot of limits. There is a limit on what is allowed and what is not allowed and maybe it is in my blood and what I have seen around me. I do have my boundary set for bold content.”

Ask Avantika if the younger lot of actors crave to be a film star or if are they happy making their own space on the web, and she says, “To see yourself on the big screen as an actor is lovely and exciting. At the same time, I worked with Rohan Sippy on my web project, where Huma Qureshi was my co-actor along with Parambrata Chattopadhyay and Rajit Kapur. The craving for the big screen is definitely not that much today for the simple reason that the script that we are getting to see on the web is exciting for an actor.”

Avatika’s mom Bhagyashree got married at a very early age. We ask what Avantika has to say about her mom’s decision. “Well, there is a reason why my mom was ready to give up all of her life for a man so interesting like my dad Himalay Dassani. Also, when my mom got married that time was really different than what it is today. The kind of opportunities that I have got are very different from what my mom got. For example, I went to London to study for three years, while my mom didn’t. Today, my mom is a certified nutritionist and has had a successful business and has also done different things in life. Things are really different today,” she signs off.

— With inputs from Vivek Kumar

Bhagyashree is set to make her television debut as a judge in DID Super Moms. In a chat, the actress spoke about how this is a great phase for her in terms of work, her future plans and if she regrets not pursuing acting post her superhit film Maine Pyar Kiya in 1989. Excerpts:

I am happy with the way things are shaping up. It feels great that people still remember me, it’s thanks to their love that I am here.

(Laughs) My children laugh at this. My son, Abhimanyu, who has been promoting his film, says everyone asks him the same question again and again. I told him that I have been answering this question for the past 33 years!

I had the opportunity to look after my family and my home, and now when I have almost fulfilled my responsibilities, there’s good work coming my way. I am grateful for that. My children are the wind beneath my wings. So, no regrets because I feel I got the best of both worlds.

Just like my children tell me, go live your dreams, he does the same.

When Abhimanyu expressed his desire to join films, I even tried to deter him because I know that life here isn’t stable, and you have to bear with the emotional upheavals that come along with this line of work. Initially, he felt angry that I wasn’t supporting him, but over a period of time, children understand things better. We can only be there to support them. They will have to take care of the brickbats that will come and enjoy the laurels of the hard work that they put in. The only thing I told him was, enjoy your work. If you do that, you will give it your 100 per cent.

I have a comfort level with the makers and the channel, because I had acted in the show Jaan many years ago, which was when I got back to working post Maine Pyar Kiya. Super Moms is a show filled with positivity and after Coronavirus, I feel that we all need something happy and positive. Unfortunately, a lot of reality shows have a negative vibe and voyeurism, which had put me off. For the longest time, I didn’t want to do a reality show because of that.

But in this case, it was different. I feel that women need a platform to come out and showcase their talent. It’s not necessary for everyone to be at the top, just the fact that they are showing the courage to stand up in front of so many people and do what they are good at, must be appreciated. I am happy to be a part of a show that can give women such a platform.

If there is truth in a story, then why not? If a journey is factual, then it’s fine because one has to give some details about the participants. Every situation does not have to be made melodramatic, but if a story is inspirational, then it should be told because that will inspire thousands. Even my last TV show, Smart Jodi, was about inspiring couples to bond again in case something was missing in their relationship. I think each one of us, in our own small way, can inspire others to better themselves.

Ram Leela is currently being staged in Ayodhya, UP, as part of the celebrations leading up to Dussehra. It depicts several important chapters from the Ramayana. Due to the pandemic, instead of a vast live audience, it’s being streamed live online and is also being broadcast on national television. Interestingly, actress Bhagyashree, who has made a comeback to movies recently, played Sita’s part on stage last night.

The actress says, “This was so special. It’s Navratri and Ram Leela is a huge part of a tradition passed down from generations. When I was approached for it, it didn’t take me long to say yes. I am starting my career afresh and I was keen to come here and seek blessings. Being able to participate in Ram Leela, which people from different parts of the world watch, made it more special. Unfortunately, my work schedule is such that I could not give it more than one day, but this will remain an extremely special experience for me.”

When asked about the prep involved in a live performance, which doesn’t allow for retakes, Bhagyashree shares, “Since it was just a day, there wasn’t too much to prepare, but it required preparation for sure. I was given detailed notes and scene break-ups. I reached the venue during the day, rehearsed and performed in the evening for the dignitaries present.”

While Bhagyashree’s husband, Himalay Dassani, accompanied her for the performance, her son, Abhimanyu, had to give it a miss due to his work commitments. “My son was very excited to know that I was doing this. He has grown up listening to all these stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata. It would have been something for him to see it live in action. In fact, not just him, my mother-in-law, too, wanted to be there, but due to age-related COVID restrictions, she couldn’t join us. My husband would not have missed this for anything. He wanted to see me playing Sita. This is the first time in decades that he wanted to see me enact a part.”

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The nation’s coveted 10-day Ram Leela celebration in Ayodhya will be a memorable one for visitors today. Actor Bhagyashree is set to slip into the part of Sita for the act tonight that is expected to draw crowds from across the country.

The actor tells mid-day, “Subhash-ji [organiser Subhash Malik] who had been [helming] the Ram Leela in Delhi earlier, approached me. This year, they planned to do it on a grand scale in Ayodhya. There was no question of turning down such an opportunity. To be part of this [celebration] in Ayodhya, which is Shri Ram ki nagari, is perfect.”

Looking at this opportunity as one among a slate that marks her “second-innings” as an actor, Bhagyashree was further lured by the fact that the play is televised globally on Doordarshan. “Since it is being telecast across the globe, it will strike a chord with audiences of the Indian diaspora, all over the world.”

She says she busied herself with prep-work a week before jetting off to Ayodhya, earlier this week. “We are all aware of Tulsidas’ Ramayan. Preparing  for the character was not an issue. We paid a visit to the Ramlala and Hanuman Garhi [temples] to seek blessings. Unfortunately, because of a pre-committed shoot schedule, I am performing only for a day. But, it is still an experience that I will be grateful for.”