When she was trolled on Twitter, she stayed calm. When critics
lambasted her over her lip job, she didn’t react. And instead, she
concentrated on her priorities and gave one memorable performance after
another as an actress.
If Bipasha Basu and Kangana Ranaut revel in the fact that they have
scored high at the box-office without the three Khans (Salman, Shah
Rukh and Aamir), here’s Anushka Sharma, daughter of an Army man who has
held her own even in the presence of the Khans, Kumar (Akshay), Kapoor
(Ranbir) and Singh (Ranveer).
Aditya Chopra’s Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (her debut with King
Khan) catapulted her to instant stardom. But she didn’t get carried away
and instead has risen in the ranks as a star and more precisely as an
actress. Ali Abbas Zafar’s Sultan starring Salman Khan is minting money, but in spite of Sultan being a SALMAN KHAN film, critics are also showering praises on Anushka for carrying herself with grace on screen.
And this is not the first time she has stood apart on a large canvas with a big star. Beyond Rab Ne…she played the ebullient journalist Akira in the legendary Yash Chopra’s last directorial venture Jab Tak Hai Jaan (opposite SRK) and romped home with her share of accolades. In Raju Hirani’s PK, a film that was all about an AAMIR KHAN, she played her part and was lauded. And now it’s Sultan with the biggest superstar in the country.
“The actress’s wrestling moves are clean and she plays Arfa with sparkle and wit,” mentions The Indian Express. Mid-Day
writes, “Anushka Sharma as Aarfa, the female wrestler who inspires
Sultan, is flawless as she is often. It’s her practical,
don’t-mess-with-me acting that makes her a delight to watch.” Yash Raj
Films which produced the film wouldn’t be regretting at its choice of
picking Anushka over the likes of Parineeti Chopra and others.
Call her sexy (Ladies vs Ricky Bahl and Bombay Velvet) or the ordinary girl (Rab Ne…) or the rural belle (Sultan), she has variety in her kitty too.
Anushka may have been around for just eight years in the
competitive world of Bollywood (if yours truly dares to use this term),
but she has already proved her worth as a performer to reckon with. And
it’s not just the Khans, remember Nikhil Advani’s Patiala House with Akshay Kumar and Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet opposite Ranbir Kapoor? Did she give a miss-and-blink performance? No she didn’t. Even in a multi-starrer like Zoya Akhtar’s Dil Dhadakne Do, she didn’t disappoint. And Anushka does aim big by turning producer with NH10 and earning appreciation for her attempt.
On the personal front, she has maintained her dignified silence on
her affair with the latest icon of Indian cricket Virat Kohli. She
doesn’t hesitate to be in the stands and cheer for her beau even if her
‘foes’ take swipes at her, if Virat fails. Poor girl, she has to take
the blame for Virat's dismal show and guess what, even if he delivers,
she is 'thanked' for her exit from his life.
It may be too much for the asking, but here’s one actress who has
slowly and steadily climbed up the ladder of success and can attain
legendary status that the likes of Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi and enjoy.
But, it’s still early days.
Nevertheless, Anushka has the conviction to stand apart no matter
how big an actor is cast opposite her. For the Kanganas and Bipashas,
here’s a message: Take up challenges of all forms and then leave it to
the audiences to judge.
And before we wind up, Anushka's next will be Imtiaz Ali’s film opposite Shah Rukh Khan. And let’s not forget Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil where she shares screen space with Aishwarya Rai and Ranbir.
Didn’t we say she isn't bothered about the star value of her
co-stars? Because she knows she has it in her not to get overshadowed.
Hats off to you Anushka!
