Aryaman's mother from kkusum in Ayushman

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Farhan

@mfarhaniqbal33

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Posted: 20 years ago

By: Shaheen Parkar
March 12, 2005

Shaheen Parkar

From astitva to Ayushmaan: Anju Mahendru's impressive journey

Yesteryear actress Anju Mahendru is all set to do a cameo in Cinevistaas' daily soap Ayushmaan (Sony).

In the serial she essays the character of Asha Mulchandani, a bar owner with a heart of gold. She features in the episodes to be aired on March 14 and 15.

Mahendru is also seen as the bua in Astitva — Ek Prem Kahani (Zee) and as a single mother Reva in Kahiin To Hoga (Star Plus). "Ayushmaan is just a one-off role for the moment," says Mahendru, "but you never know if they develop the track later."

Ayushmaan's plot has Dr Mayank (Manav Gohil) take on Divya (Nigaar Z Khan) in the custody battle for their son, Kush.

The fact that Divya had worked for Asha in the bar gets highlighted. "The character of Asha turns out to be a formidable ally for Divya.

She assures everyone that she had treated her like a daughter," says Mahendru, who will also be seen as the ambitious Indu in Manish Goswami's Swaarth, slated to air on Zee.

"Asha emphasises that though Divya may have worked in a beer bar, she did so with her honour intact."

Adds Persis Singaporia, Cinevistaas' creative director for Ayushmaan, "Anju Mahendru was a natural choice because we wanted a strong woman who has the guts to live life on her terms.

Her moral strength and warmth comes through on screen perfectly."
Incidentally, Ayushman also had Shraddha Nigam do a cameo as Faiza, the lawyer who comes to Ayushmaan's (Sudeep Sahir) rescue.