At just 20, Bhagyashree walked away from Bollywood after 'Maine Pyar Kiya' to marry businessman Himalaya Dassani. Despite being pursued by legends like Yash Chopra and Manmohan Desai, she chose family over fame. She has few regrets, believing sincerity and hard work always find appreciation.Bhagyashree surprised everyone in Bollywood when she made a bold decision that nobody expected. She had just starred in her first film ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ with Salman Khan, which became a huge hit. But at just 20 years old, she chose to leave acting behind and focus on her personal life. She married businessman Himalaya Dassani and decided that her family was more important than fame, at a time when very few actresses would have made that choice.Bhagyashree on why family came before fameNow, talking to Variety India, the actress explained, “I was very young and very much in love. I wanted to get married and start a family. I think all young girls dream that. When the film came out, I was married and pregnant because there was a year-long gap between the shoot and release. As a 20-year-old, it was only logical for me to make a choice—either follow my love, get married and lead my life that way, or get into films and forget about love. It was all about priority. It wasn’t possible then to have both.”The one decision Bhagyashree says she regretsBut there is one decision that Bhagyashree admits she regrets. After ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’, she only worked in films where her husband played her love interest. These films included ‘Qaid Mein Hai Bulbul’, ‘Paayal’ and ‘Tyagi’. Looking back, she admits it was not the smartest move. She shared honestly, "Someone came to me and said they wanted to make a film with me and wanted my husband to play my love interest. I thought, why not? It seemed like the easiest thing to do. I didn't think about what the audience would feel. I didn't think about the repercussions. I still get flak for that, but that's okay. You make a lot of mistakes when you're young, and this was one of them. We had fun and finished that chapter."When Yash Chopra and Manmohan Desai tried to win Bhagyashree backThe actress also revealed that her exit from mainstream cinema did not go down well with some of the biggest names in the industry. Legendary filmmakers tried hard to bring her back, but she stood her ground. She recalled, "I was scolded by Yash Ji. Manmohan Desai told me, 'Bhagyashree, just say yes and I will announce the film tomorrow. Why are you not doing it?'" Despite the weight of those missed opportunities, Bhagyashree today speaks about them with a sense of calm and acceptance rather than bitterness. "I don't regret my decisions, but there is a wish. They were masters of their craft, and it would have been wonderful to work with them. Because of the choices I made, I missed the opportunity to work with some of the greatest filmmakers. But life goes on, and you don't look back."PollWhat do you think about Bhagyashree choice to prioritize family over fame at a young age?It's admirable and brave.It's a missed opportunity.Bhagyashree on success: 'There is enough grass for everyone'Her rapid rise to fame had many wondering what could have been, with some even suggesting she might have outshined several top actresses of her time. She fondly recalled one such moment when a fellow actress paid her an unexpected compliment. "It was so sweet when Juhi told me once, 'Good that you left the industry, otherwise you…'". But Bhagyashree takes such words in her stride and believes that success is never a zero-sum game. "I feel there is enough grass for everyone. You need to be sincere with your work, and you will always find appreciation."