Silver linings play book

Granddaughter of legendary Bollywood actress Bina Rai, best known for her characters in Anarkali and Taj Mahal, Akanksha Aggarwal inherited her acting genes. Fortunately or unfortunately for her, the passion didn’t play out on the big screen as much as she would’ve hoped. But on the upside, she is now a successful entrepreneur with a shimmering business in silver. “Being the only daughter in the family, right from the beginning, I had been very protected. My father was very conservative and never permitted me to do many things, which I wanted to do — like going to a boarding school or a college abroad. My father was the son and grandson of legends and an actor and producer himself, so he used to eat, drink, sleep and breath films and TV. But then he had also seen his mother’s life and how hectic it was in the industry. He tried to keep me away from it all,” she says referring to daddy dear Prem Kishen, who owns the production company Cinevistaas.

But it’s not like Akanksha didn’t give it a shot at all. The actress had a brief stint in Bollywood. “Around the time I was turning 18, I started getting lots of offers for modelling and acting. A lot of people thought I have a strong resemblance to my grandmother, which was a huge compliment to me. To my father’s dismay, I did start with modelling and then begged him and convinced him to allow me to act. I acted in four films and just as my career was taking off, I met my husband. At the premiere of my film with Salman Khan, Garv, I got introduced to my husband and soon I was married.”

But that led to a rather interesting career progression of sorts too. Akanksha, along with her mother-in-law Neena Aggarwal runs a silver boutique. “My mother-in-law and I partnered and started a company called Exclusively Yours Artefacts LLP. The company designs, manufactures and retails silver and silver plated home décor items. Prior to this, we brought Sherle Wagner, an American company recognised to be the world’s most luxurious brand for home décor.”

Needless to say, guests walking in and out of the store are the city’s glitterati. “I am truly blessed and grateful to have the support and love of my friends, both Bollywood and others. I am in touch with them regularly. Shilpa, Shamita, Tanisha and Kajol are more family to me than friends. I discuss and share lots with them”

Akanksha hopes that one day, she’ll be back on camera. “I'm passionate and love acting, music and dance. Some day I hope to get back in front of the camera, may be on TV once my babies are older.”