Shah Rukh Khan once said, ‘kisi cheez ko dil se chaho toh poori kainath use tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jaati hai (If you truly desire something with all your heart, the entire universe conspires to help you achieve it)’. Bollywood buffs know that this iconic line is from the 2007 cult classic Farah Khan directorial Om Shanti Om, also starring Deepika Padukone. But today’s story is not about SRK. It is about an ordinary girl from Pilhibit, Uttar Pradesh, who turned her dream of becoming an actress into reality.

A chance encounter with Kriti Sanon

Anvishaa Tyagi always wanted to see herself on the big screen and she did in the film Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. The romantic-comedy, directed by David Dhawan, starred Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur and Pooja Hegde in the lead, with Kriti Sanon making a surprise cameo appearance as Disha. And Anvishaa, by playing the role of Kriti’s younger self in the movie, a surprise she had no idea about.

According to a report by the Official Humans of Bombay, Anvishaa's journey to the silver screen began 5 years ago when she moved from Pilibhit to Mumbai with her father, determined to pursue a career in acting. During the first month in the city, she unexpectedly crossed paths with Kriti Sanon in a hotel lobby. Overwhelmed with excitement, Anvishaa nervously requested a selfie and Kriti happily obliged, leaving Anvishaa cherishing the photograph for hours.

Parents’ sacrifice fuels Bollywood dream

Anvishaa's love for performing started much earlier. Her mother enrolled her in a local dance class and at just 5 years old, she made her stage debut, winning the second prize despite being the youngest participant. During the 2020 lockdown, Anvishaa’s passion found further encouragement when she connected with choreographer Remo D'Souza through his Instagram Live sessions. While she continued balancing studies with dance over the next 2 years, her father constantly reminded her that opportunities are not found—they are created.

Determined to give his daughter that opportunity, Anvishaa's father made the difficult decision to relocate with her to Mumbai, while her mother stayed back in Pilibhit because of her government job. The family endured the emotional challenge of living apart, but Anvishaa made the most of every opportunity, clearing KBC Juniors on her very first attempt and also appearing in commercials alongside Indian women's cricket captain Harmanpreet Kaur.

The surprise role that changed everything

The biggest surprise, however, arrived with David Dhawan's Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. Anvishaa auditioned for the film without knowing which character she had been shortlisted for. Even after completing the shoot, she remained unaware that she had portrayed Kriti Sanon's younger self. It was only at the film's premiere, while watching the movie with her family, that the truth was revealed. As she watched herself appear on screen, she was left stunned.

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The moment became even more memorable when Varun Dhawan turned to her and asked, "Kaisa laga surprise? (How was the surprise?)" For Anvishaa, it was a full-circle moment that brought back memories of the nervous teenager who had once stood before Kriti Sanon asking for a selfie. Looking back, Anvishaa believes the true heroes of her story are her parents, who sacrificed their own comfort to help her chase an ambitious dream. While she finally fulfilled her childhood wish of seeing herself in a Bollywood film, she said that the fairy tale belongs as much to them as it does to her.