`Anandi` not bogged down by expectations

Pratyusha Banerjee, who plays the grown-up `Anandi` on popular TV soap Balika Vadhu, says she is not bogged by the expectations of her character and is instead proud to be associated with a social cause. Pratyusha, who stepped in the shoes of Avika Gor, said, "I am not really bogged down by the expectations of the character. People have accepted Avika and given her love and respect and I expect the same." The show, Balika Vadhu is set up in rural Rajasthan and highlights the hazards of of child marriage. As the show took a five year leap, 19-year-old Pratyusha will now play the role of Anandi. "I am happy to be part of this show. Though we all have become modern, the practice of child marriage is prevalent in villages in India. It must be stopped as it affects not only childhood but also restricts the growth of a child, as they don`t get the opportunity to study further," Pratyusha said. Jameshedpur-based Partyusha, who is a trained classical dancer and singer, was chosen as the new `Anandi` through an SMS campaign. She is the final year of B.Com. "This is the first time I will be seen on TV. Earlier I have given screen tests and done several plays," she said. PTI