Mascot Charm

“My daughter is in school,but my son is a graduate and both have represented their schools and clubs in football tournaments,” says the actress,in Lucknow on Wednesday to promote ‘Six on a Side’ tournament by Super Soccer Society,an event she will be inaugurating on the Republic Day at Babu Banarsi Das Institute.

“It’s a pity how cricket hogs all the limelight in our country. When my kids came to know that I had been offered to open a soccer tourney,they insisted that I do the honours,” said the actress,who was the cynosure of all eyes in her very first role in the TV series Kachchi Dhoop,an adaptation of Three Little Ladies,till stardom came in the form of a love story that made huge stars out of her and co-actor Salman Khan. “I used to play badminton in tournaments till I fractured my wrist three times. But neither sports,nor acting…my aspiration was to excel academically,go abroad for higher studies,etc. I was taken off guard by my success as in acting,” said the actress,whose career went for a toss when she appeared in films opposite her husband Himalaya. She has done some television series and a number of regional films,including Bhojpuri. “I have been to Lucknow for film shoots,to attend weddings,for shopping and I am surprised everytime to see the changing cityscape,” says the actress,declining to divulge details of two film projects she is on her way to sign in the near future. Bhagyashree keeps herself occupied,besides acting,with social work. In Maharashtra,a scheme for the benefit of newborn village girls is named after her: Maajhi Kan-ya Bhagyas-hree.