Anushka: I dont react to things that can mess with your head

Anushka Sharma is a refreshingly direct and honest movie star, one whose sincerity towards her craft comes across. She is also not seeking attention, but seems to be getting loads of it. Add to that, her spunk, PK', a cute haircut & four big time releases, and the person intrigues you. Here's a quick, nineteen to the dozen chat with Noosh' as her friends call her !

It's been a bit of a gap between releases for you, but you now have PK and NH10, as a producer. Tell us about the experience of shooting for these films, and about turning producer.

With four back-to-back films being shot. I turned producer during this phase, so I was completely busy mentally, physically, basically completely!

Starting with PK, It's obviously a very special film for me, and not just because it's a Rajkumar Hirani film. I've heard people talk about being part of some films for the experience, although PK" is the first time I have experienced it.

There are some films that you do, as an actor, and you feel very proud to be a part of it. You know, (pauses), that feeling that you get when you feel it's more than the job.

NH 10 was offered to me some time ago, but I couldn't pick it up then. Instinctively, I decided that I should do this film, it was not a conscious plan to turn producer although it must have been a thought at the back of my head. Since I am in a good space right now, where I have the ability to mount a film, and back a good project, so I thought, "Lets just get into it completely, lets just fully be on board."

Despite having had a YashRaj debut, you took your time to pick your roles and choose your films. Your approach has been careful, and not quite, PR driven. Besides, you keep yourself to yourself. Do you think your decisions, so far, have worked out well for you?

It came naturally to me, because I always knew what I don't want to do, and I never take up such work. A lot of people advise you when you first enter the film industry, many tell you what you should be doing. Everyone told me that I should be signing 3-4 films in a year, because the more you are seen, the better for you.

Even though, like you said, it was a very big launch. But I think somewhere, the result of my debut (opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi' in 2009), wasn't what it was expected to be. I didn't automatically become a star after my debut. So in a way, I had to put in some struggle to get the kind of recognition that I earned after Band Baaja Baraat' (2010). The period in between these two films, I guess, when people left me alone, and not much was expected out my career, I chose to sign films that made me feel strongly. I kept to myself, and didn't choose projects' that were saleable.

Then Band Baaja Baraat' came in, a great script with a new actor and a new director. But if this film worked, it will do so on it's merit, it wouldn't be riding on other factors. When it worked, it was a validation of my thinking- if I continue to do films that work for me from my heart, it is going to work.

Since then my plan has been simple, just do good films. It's so simple that it doesn't even sound like a plan at times. Certain things will be told to you, as a heroine, that you should do in your career. I don't think you need to do those, I don't think they help. You just need to stay focused on good films and good roles.

About being lonely, I am a very reserved person. I feel people have been very nice to me so far. I have always been in my own zone, I've always had very few friends. I am very close to my family and to friends who are not from the film industry. Now, I am friends with Karan (Johar), Ranbir (Kapoor), Katrina (Kaif), Ayan Mukherjee, Arjun (Kapoor). But I still don't feel the need to have company or to party every night. I can't do that, I have never done that even when I was a teenager.

Because of that, I guess, I have never felt lonely, and I have experienced that most people in the film industry are fair to you. Initially, you might be perceived as snobbish, but I have always been like this, somewhat reserved, so no one misunderstands me. My family is a huge support to me.

I like being alone, I like spending time with myself a lot. I like reading, watching TV shows & movies. If I see something interesting on a documentary or something, I really get into it and try to understand the problem.

Did you replace RajKummar Rao in NH 10'?

There's absolutely no truth to that, because of a lack of knowledge some people spoke that way. Before me taking this film up, it was being made with Freida Pinto. When I came on board, I was only told about Neil (Bhoopalam). Navdip Singh, the director, in his mind, had already chosen the actor. He showed me Neil's photos. Perhaps Rajkummar was cast in it when Freida too was a part of it. But I didn't even know he was considered!

It's silly that I would replace an actor, and I would tell you why. If a director is not happy with the actors that he has chosen, he probably will not be able to get the best out of them, and hence that will affect the film. My film is the most important to me. And I have experienced this personally. Parmeet Sethi (director of Badmaash Company') didn't really want me in Badmaash Company', but Aditya Chopra (producer) was convinced that I should be doing the film. But it was there in my heart, and you end up trying too hard as an actor. The equation is not very nice then. Because of that, I would never ever interfere with a director's casting. It's not really my place to do that.

You've worked with Priyanka Chopra, and post Koffee with Karan'; there were reports that you had issues with each other. Also, you've worked with Zoya Akhtar for Dil Dhadhakne Do'. What's the real story here?

It's very sad that when two actresses work together, there's always speculation about how they are fighting and don't like each other. I find this quite demeaning and sexist. It's never written about actors that way, one never says that Ranveer & Farhan are fighting.

People don't take us actresses seriously, they don't realize that we go there to do a job, and we need to be even more focused at times. If there were a little bit of truth to this, I would understand. Priyanka & I are completely fine with each other, and I hate it when I need to justify to people that "Oh, we hung out with each other!" If I am getting along with Priyanka, but the world speculates we are not, I am not going to pose one happy picture on Twitter and claim that we are friends. I know that I share a good equation with her, and I genuinely don't care about what people say or think. I am against this kind of talk around actresses, about us having cat fights. Common we are girls who work as professionals from a very young age. It would be nice if people cut us some slack.

As for working with Zoya, you know, I had a list of directors I wanted to work with, and touchwood, I am working with them now! Probably because Zoya is a woman, the way she portrays women is very interesting, very real. Her idea of beauty and sex appeal of a woman is very different, which is what I like, because that's how we women really are! She's a little strong headed, and doesn't always make commercial compromises. Secondly, the relationships that she creates on-screen, are so subtle and relatable. She knows her characters; they are etched out so well.

Final question, you clearly shun the limelight on your personal life, and on your relationship with Virat. But don't you think, as actors, a chunk of your private life does become public, and has happened to the greatest movie stars throughout history?

I choose to live my life like I want to. It's my life and the media will know me for a few more years. After that, nobody will know me and will probably not be interested in my life at that point in time. So I won't alter my today, based on what people are thinking.

By choosing to lead my life on my own terms, I am not hiding anything nor am I playing games with the media or the public. Whatever you see of me, it's out there.

People remember me for the films that I have done and will continue to remember me for my work. If people call me bubbly now, is because those roles required me to be bubbly on-screen. I could not have played those roles seriously. I would be asked to leave (smiles).

Be it scrutiny over my lip filler, or calling me anorexic, a lot of times, people assume things and speak very loosely. I only react when I have to, when I feel it's gone beyond a limit, and I am being bullied in some way. My fans have supported me throughout, and that doesn't change. So after a point, I don't react to things that can mess with your head.