Bhagyashree, the actress who starred opposite Salman Khan in the 1989 Bollywood blockbuster “Maine Pyar Kiya,” made her first trip to San Francisco in August 2025. She spent two days at Pier 39 and other Bay Area locations, documenting the experience for her 2.5 million Instagram followers.
The visit attracted attention from local media, with SFGATE covering her tourist activities on August 27, 2025. Her Instagram post showed a straightforward approach to sightseeing: ice cream, waffles, street musicians, and scenic drives through the city.
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The August 2025 Visit
Bhagyashree posted photos and videos from Pier 39 with a simple caption: “My first visit to this beautiful city. The blue waters are a sight for sore eyes for sure.”
At the waterfront destination, she listened to live music, walked through the shops, and stopped at Lappert’s Ice Cream. The Hawaiian-inspired ice cream shop serves tropical flavors like Kauai Pie, which combines coffee ice cream with coconut, macadamia nuts, and chocolate fudge. She also had mini waffles, though she didn’t specify which restaurant.
“Really loved the Pier39, its vibe, the yummy waffles n icecream,” she wrote in her post.
Beyond the pier, Bhagyashree drove down Lombard Street, viewed the Golden Gate Bridge, and took Highway 1 along the coast. She had dinner at Maggiano’s Little Italy at Santana Row in San Jose.
From Princess to Bollywood Icon
Bhagyashree comes from the Marathi royal family of Sangli in Maharashtra. Her great-grandfather, Chintamanrao Dhundirao Patwardhan, served as the last ruling Raja of Sangli during British rule in India. Her father holds the title of Raja of Sangli today.
She started her career in television before director Sooraj Barjatya cast her in “Maine Pyar Kiya” at age 20. The romantic film, released December 29, 1989, became the highest-grossing Bollywood movie of that year and the entire 1980s decade. The soundtrack sold over 10 million units.
Bhagyashree won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. Her co-star Salman Khan went on to become one of Bollywood’s biggest names, while she stepped back from films after marrying Himalaya Dasani in January 1989.
Limited Film Career, Return to Entertainment
After three films with her husband in the early 1990s failed at the box office, Bhagyashree focused on raising two children. Her son, Abhimanyu Dasani, won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut in 2019 for “Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota.” Her daughter is Avantika Dassani.
She returned to Bollywood in supporting roles starting in 2006. Recent projects include “Thalaivi” (2021) with Kangana Ranaut and “Radhe Shyam” with Prabhas. She has also appeared on television shows and judged the dance reality series “DID Super Moms.”
San Francisco Pier 39 Experience
The waterfront complex opened in 1978 and features over 90 shops and 14 restaurants across two levels. California sea lions began arriving at K-Dock after the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake and have become one of the location’s main attractions. The sea lion population peaks between July and May, with numbers ranging from dozens to hundreds.
Pier 39 sits at Beach Street and The Embarcadero, offering views of Alcatraz Island, the Bay Bridge, and the city skyline. It has been recognized as San Francisco’s most visited attraction for nine consecutive years and received Legacy Business status from the city in 2018.
Lappert’s Ice Cream, where Bhagyashree stopped during her visit, opened its Pier 39 location in 2023. The shop makes fresh waffle cones on-site and serves flavors like Manila Mango and Ube Macapuno alongside traditional options.
Social Media Reach
Born February 23, 1969, Bhagyashree maintains an active Instagram presence (@bhagyashree.online) where she posts about fitness, lifestyle, and family life. Her San Francisco trip generated strong engagement from fans who commented on her posts about the Bay Area visit.
The actress wrote that she completed “as many of the touristy things I could in 2 days,” a statement that connected with followers who appreciated seeing a celebrity approach San Francisco the same way most visitors do.
Why a 1989 Film Still Matters
“Maine Pyar Kiya” grossed ₹458.1 million worldwide on a ₹20 million budget. The film’s title track and dialogue became part of Indian pop culture. Decades later, the movie remains one of the most recognized Bollywood productions, which explains why Bhagyashree’s travel posts still draw significant attention.
Her San Francisco visit showed that royal lineage and Bollywood fame don’t change the basic appeal of street musicians at Pier 39, ice cream on the waterfront, and the view of the Golden Gate Bridge from a coastal highway.
The actress experienced San Francisco the way millions of tourists do each year, proving that some attractions work regardless of who visits them.
