Anushka Sharma didn’t have filmy pedigree to her credit. Nor did she have a beauty pageant title behind her to open doors in Bollywood. Yet, she has had a debut few can dream of — the lead role in a Yash Raj film starring opposite Shah Rukh Khan. What more could she have asked for?

Talking about her association with Yash Raj films, the bubbly actress says, “The fact that I began my career with YRF helped me overcome half my struggle. I feel I have been really lucky.”
Being a great admirer of Aditya Chopra, Anushka says, “Both of us gel very well. We have the same thought process, we can read between the lines. Adi understands me completely. In the very first meeting while discussing my character, I told him what I would like to do and what I wasn’t comfortable doing, and he agreed. We share the same ideologies. He is a good person, truthful and one who lives for cinema.”
The bubbly actress, who got rave reviews for her role in Rab Ne Bana De Jodi and Badmaash Company, is happy that she is getting a chance to play varied roles at the beginning of her career. “In RNBDJ, I play a shy, demure and soft spoken girl and in Badmaash Company, I play a smart woman who gangs up with her buddies to make some quick bucks. I am happy to be playing such different roles,” she quips.
Her latest film Band Baaja and Baarat will portray Anushka in an interesting role — that of a wedding planner. Shedding more light on her character, she says, “In this movie, I play a Delhiite. Mastering the lingo was quite a challenge but the director, Maneesh helped me a lot.” The rumour was that Anushka was under a contract with YRF but she denies it. “I never signed any contract with YRF. I could do films outside the Yash Raj banner. In fact my Patiala House is getting ready for release. I was supposed to do three films with YRF and Band Baaja and Baarat is my third film with them. The roles that I was offered were different and interesting so I accepted them,” she avers.
Being a newcomer herself, not so long ago, Anushka has worked with one in her latest film where she is being paired opposite a newcomer — Ranveer Singh. She readily admits she had no qualms about it. “Why should I have a problem working with newcomers? I never look down upon any newcomer. We are here to work and perform as per the demand of the script. Ranveer is quite talented, uninhibited and always willing to learn. In fact, he has taught me many things. Maneesh, who directed the film, is also a good friend. He was the one who had taken my audition for RNBDJ. All three of us got along really well. Maneesh made us do unexpected things on the streets and it was fun working in the film.”
Going back to her dream debut, where she worked with SRK, Anushka got the kind of launch other actresses would kill for. Was there any nervousness or trepidation working with the superstar? The actress claims that working with Shah Rukh was a learning experience. She adds, “I can never catch on to any big actor just to make my presence felt.”
Contrary to expectations, she doesn’t go into gush mode over Shah Rukh. She reveals instead that working with Shahid in Badmaash Company was much more fun. “Shahid is closer to me, agewise, and we had great time on the sets. We would often chill out together while shooting for the film,” she says.
Since Anushka is the latest muse of YRF, does this mean she is a replacement for Rani? She replies, “Why should I be a replacement for Rani? She has her own way of working and I have mine. We are two different personalities and we fit the bill of different characters as the role demands. So there is no need for one to replace the other.”
In an industry where fates change every Friday and preferences are based on personal equations, does she get insecure about her work or her standing in the industry? YRF as a production house has also cast Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone in their movies and they are open to other heroines as well. Does this make her jealous? “I am not a jealous person. Adi has also cast Katrina. I am proud of the fact that I am being offered roles by YRF. I am a grounded person. No actor is big or small. I feel my work and talent will speak for me more than anything else. Also, I am a strong woman, I do not fear anything. I always like to do roles that are suited to my personality.”
Being grounded has another benefit for Anushka. She doesn’t let every detail of her life be out there in the media and doesn’t dedicate hours to public relations. She confirms that she detests the practice. “I am of the opinion that when I have something to say I talk to the media. I do not like to publicise myself unnecessarily,” she concludes.