Anushka Sharma turned a year older today. She made her debut in 2008 in Aditya Chopra’s Mr. India’s ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’, which makes it almost 12 years that she has been in the Hindi film industry.
From the beginning, Anushka had critics and the audience gush over her. She was simple and bubbly back then. All was hunky dory until Parineeti Chopra came along and grabbed all the attention. She was like the newer and fresher version of Anu, plus it didn’t hurt that Pari was dating YRF’s director, Maneesh Sharma at that time.
Though Anushka was last seen in ‘Zero’ two years ago, she has still managed to remain in people’s mind, thanks to her marriage to one of India’s most famous cricketer, Virat Kohli! She has certainly come a long way and it’s nice that she managed to find a life partner in Virat.
Her production will soon be releasing a show that she produced on an OTT platform. Other than that, Anushka has not signed any film for now. So…Nothing to talk about here.
Let’s move on to the time she made her debut and the time she met Mr. India.
As you know, it was a big deal back then that he was making a film with Shah Rukh Khan but wanted a newcomer in it. Obviously, if he cannot put Malkin in his film he cannot go to any of her colleagues so the next choice would be a new girl.
So Anushka auditioned and got the part, which means she got to sit in front of Mr. India (yes, he’s real) and this is what he told her. Bear in mind that this is at the signing of her debut in films:
Listen, I have a lot of belief in your talent. I think you are a very talented actress but I don’t think you are very good-looking. You’re not the most good-looking girl, so you have to make sure that you work really hard. You’re on for Taani (her character in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi).
So, according to him only pretty girls can become actresses? If you are not pretty then you have to work extra hard and know how to act?
Doesn’t this sound familiar?
Coincidentally, Malkin also felt the same way about how Anushka looks:
What I would really like to know because I have heard it from my husband [Aditya Chopra] that you were not a very avid Hindi film watcher when you became an actor. You auditioned for Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008) and I remember seeing your audition and saying “My God! Look at the spark this girl has.” I wouldn’t say you were drop-dead gorgeous but there was something in your performance, something in your personality that was vibrant and lovely.
No wonder Anu felt the need to go under the knife to look more perfect, as per Bollywood standards! To be told by industry biggies and KebabJo that you are not pretty enough, it’s as if they are telling her we are doing you a favour by launching you even though you are not pretty enough to deserve it!
Honestly, we never once thought about it. Anushka has had it in her since the beginning. Her not looking like other girls or not being pretty enough has never mattered to her fans and the audience. It’s not as if people were going, “If only she was pretty!”.
Speaking of looking pretty, what is Mr. India’s idea of a good-looking actress? Is this what he tried to make Vaani Kapoor become? Is it having long legs and wearing lesser clothes?
If you remember back then he started that trend in ‘Mohabbatein’ where you are supposed to be modern if you wear less clothes or if you wear inner-wear as outerwear.
How does someone who is afraid to step out in public know what the public wants? Most importantly, how does someone who does not step out of his home and office know what the standard of beauty is?
Sadly, his words added on to Anushka’s insecurity because here she was in an industry that had other girls like Deepika, Katrina, Asin and so on. She was a fan of Katrina from the beginning and when she decided to do something about her looks, one heard she turned to Katty. You all know what happened after that! It was very distracting and sad at the same time to see her looking like that onscreen in quite a few films.
That was then and now she’s almost looking like she did back then at the beginning. At the end of the day, it’s her acting that makes people want to watch her films and nothing else!
Happy Birthday, Anushka! Can’t wait to see you in more good films!
P.S. Mr. India was wrong! You want to stay relevant and keep on working in this industry, date someone with connection who is willing to get you films at his cost! Looks has nothing to do with it, but of course it does help get you at the door…And home food too, just in case!
