This Actress Debuted With Salman Khan But Is Seldom Seen In Bollywood Films Now

Everyone knows who Bhagyashree is, the actress who played the lead role in the 1989 super hit Maine Pyar Kiya, but few know that the actress is a princess in real life. Bhagyashree hails from the royal Marathi family of Maharashtra in Sangli. Her grandfather, Chintamanrao Dhundirao Patwardhan, was the last ruling Raja of the princely state of Sangli. On the other hand, her father, Vijay Singhrao Madhavrao Patwardhan, is the titular Raja of Sangli.

Despite her royal lineage, Bhagyashree gave up everything for love and left the palace life to marry a common man named Himalaya Dasani, her childhood sweetheart. After her marriage, Bhagyashree too quit acting at the peak of her career to focus on her family life.

Bhagyashree rose to superstardom immediately after her Bollywood debut when she played the lead role in the 1989 film Maine Pyar Kiya opposite Salman Khan. The film grossed more than Rs 28 crore at the box office. Surprisingly, Bhagyashree charged more money than Salman Khan for this film.

But despite all the success, Bhagyashree left the film industry for her love for Himalaya Dasani, whom she married in 1989. Bhagyashree and her husband Himalaya Dasani met in school and soon realized that they “can’t live without each other.” Bhagyashree was once quoted as saying, “We were never together. It was the last day of school when he told me about his feelings for me. One day he said, ‘I want to tell you something’, then he practised speaking for about a week but did not say anything on the spot.

Bhagyashree then told Himalaya, “Let him say what he thinks. The answer would be good”. When Bhagyashree’s family came to know about their love affair, they were against it, which led to the young couple’s separation.

Himalaya then went to the US to study and Bhagyashree signed with Maine Pyar Kiya. But love conquers all, so one day Bhagyashree told her family that she loved Himalaya and could not live without him.

When her family still did not agree, Bhagyashree told Himalaya, “If you love me, then take me with you. I will leave home.” The couple then got married in a temple in the presence of Himalaya’s parents, Salman Khan, Sooraj Barjatya and a few friends.

Bhagyashree and Himalaya Dassani have been married for over 30 years now. They have two children. Their son, Abhimanyu Dasani and daughter, Avantika Dassani, are both actors. Bhagyashree now appears in supporting roles in films. She was last seen in Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video.