‘I’m in a happy space’: Anushka Sharma on Shah Rukh Khan, Zero and the year that 2018 was

This month, Anushka Sharma completes 10 years in Bollywood. Coincidentally, the actress, who made her debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, marks the culmination of a decade in the movies with the superstar in Zero, which releases on December 21. Over the years, she has not only consolidated her position as an actress to reckon with, but also forayed into production halfway through her journey so far. Her ventures like NH10, Phillauri and Pari not only earned critical acclaim but also fared well at the box-office.

Post her wedding to Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, her movies like Pari and Sui Dhaaga: Made In India have broken the oft-quoted belief that marriage affects an actress’ career. Now, after impressing critics and audiences with her acting chops in the horror thriller and the romantic social drama, Anushka will be seen as a scientist suffering from cerebral palsy in the upcoming Aanand L Rai directorial.

We catch up with the star at Bandra’s Mehboob Studios for a chat. Excerpts... 

This year, your films have not only been different, but your characters also have been dynamically unique and deglam..

Looks are dependent on roles. This year has been important, exciting and successful, performance-wise. Pari was appreciated, while in Sui Dhaaga, my character, Mamta, was liked by viewers. Zero also has an interesting role. Overall, 2018 has been challenging for me as a performer. As an actor, you’re trying to constantly create a different mould for yourself. In my case, I’m striving to break boundaries. I want to reinvent myself with every film. I want people to see and think that I’m doing something different than what I’ve done before. It’s important to stay relevant by doing that. I’ve always chased good roles and performances.

What were your first thoughts when Aanand L Rai offered you the role of Aafia Bhinder, a scientist with cerebral palsy, in Zero?

The film is larger than life and celebrates love as well as life beautifully. Writer Himanshu Sharma and Aanand sir share a good equation. They had a certain vision and I wanted to come on board and submit to it. My character is different, she has cerebral palsy. Himanshu and Aanand sir had done a lot of research as they knew how they wanted their character to be portrayed on screen. I surrendered to their vision completely.

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They had appointed an occupational therapist and an audiologist for me to learn about this condition. For me, as an actor, I understood the responsibility that it has to be explained and presented truthfully, the way it is. I spent three months to learn, research and understand how to go about this role. And that was crucial.

I met the therapist who works with kids battling cerebral palsy. The way the character was written, it wasn’t easy for us to find someone with this condition. As an actor, observing someone and then essaying the role wasn’t right. The therapist didn’t want me to observe and play the part. He wanted me to understand this condition and its restrictions. The character is brilliant and a highly-accomplished person. So, finding a person with this condition to observe and play the role accordingly was not possible. The therapist suggested that I should understand the motor skills, while the audiologist helped me with the speech.

Katrina Kaif said that she would have loved to do your role. Did you ever want to play her role — the supertsar Babita Kumari or you felt Aafia was a better part for you?

I was interested in this part since the time I heard the narration. Yes, Katrina would often tell Aanand sir and me that she wanted to essay this role. It was extremely challenging for me to play Aafia. It’s interesting because you see the spirit of her character, which is so amazing. And, of course, it also inspired me to push the envelope as an actor.

This is your fourth film with Shah Rukh Khan. How different is it each time you work with him, from Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi to Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Jab Harry Met Sejal and now Zero?

Having worked with him in four films, I’ve found an equation with Shah Rukh. This is my 10th year in the industry and I’m doing a film with him in the same month when my debut movie opposite him had released. So, it’s quite cool. I’m comfortable with him. He’s an interesting person to talk to, he’s passionate and driven. That’s an important quality one should have. When he comes to the set, you see that every shot is important to him. He doesn’t have an attitude like dekhenge, chala lenge. The passion and drive, even after all these years, is something to learn, for any actor.  

This is your first film with Aanand. In an interview to this paper, he said that he found friends in you and Katrina.

He has made films that people have loved and warmed up to. This is a huge project for him, it’s his, Shah Rukh and Himanshu’s baby. The three of them have been a big part of making this film, and the passion they have put into it. I’m happy to go on this journey with them and follow their vision for my character in the movie. Aanand sir can make friends with anyone. He’s a happy person who is warm as well as strong.

How do you look at the year gone by? 

I’m in a happy space. For me, the acting assignments as well as the production aspect has been quite exciting. My brother Karnesh and I are making films for Netflix and a series for Amazon. I’m happy that people are seeing value in our production house as content creators. We are also working with new writers and directors. When you’re not acting, you have to take out time to be involved in projects. That’s what I’ve been doing as a producer. As an actor, I’m in the midst of making a decision. This has been a hectic year with distinct films. It’s important for me to decide what I’m taking on next. Five years ago, it was a different situation. Now, I’m secure and can take time. If you continue working the way I have in the past three years, you burn out. That’s why you need to take time to understand what you want to do.

How do you unwind after a long hard day?

Either I’m working or spending time with my loved ones. Otherwise, there’s no time like people say, ‘Hum ghoomne chale gaye’. When I have a break, my husband is working. When he has a break, I’m working. So it’s not like normal people taking a holiday. Now, I’m trying to be with my parents.

So what’s next for you as an actor? Any kind of role or film on your wish list?

I don’t have a wish list of the kind of roles or films I want to do. The story has to be interesting to start with.

After your wedding last December, you seem to have set off a trend in B-Town... Sonam K Ahuja, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra have followed suit.

It’s a cool trend to start (smiles). Marriage is a beautiful institution. I believe in its sanctity. I tied the knot at the age of 29. Usually, actresses are expected to settle down later in life. I’ve never been conventional and I’ve never made conventional choices. I’ve never been like let me do something tried and tested... I started producing when I was 25. I chose to marry because I felt it was the right thing to do. It’s nice to see people who are in love and committing their life to each other.