‘I WANT TO CREATE GOOD CINEMA’

Anushka Sharma talks about how she wants to bring “something new to the table” as a producer

S he started her career in 2008 with Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, and nearly a decade later, Anushka Sharma has managed to carve out a niche for herself in the Hindi entertainment industry. In an interview with HT Café, the actor, producer and entrepreneur talks about her life, career and what her stint in Bollywood has taught her.

You are no longer just an actor; now you’re a producer and an entrepreneur as well. Which would you rather be?

It’s very hard to answer that (laughs). But honestly, everything in my life has happened, because I am an actor first, and it will always be like that, because I really enjoy the kind of joy I get out of acting — regardless of whether I get praised for it or not. Acting and being an entrepreneur are two completely different things. They cannot be clubbed together, but it’s all a part of me. As they say, ‘boond boond jaake samundar mein hi milti hai’ (smiles).

You are set to complete 10 years in Bollywood next year…

To be honest, I work very hard to be where I am. But I am very blessed to have had the support of so many amazing people in my life — from my family and my team to the people I work with. That’s why I want to do as much as I can to make the most of where I am.

From the looks of it, your style of functioning is very different to your contemporaries…

I think it’s got to do with the fact that I am doing what I feel comfortable with. So I am leading a life and making decisions that make me feel at ease. That’s why I am not interested in a lot of things, because it adds no value to my life. I feel that ultimately, you do things that add value [to your life]. For me, my personal growth is very important, and a lot of those things will stunt that.

I’m doing what I feel comfortable with. I’m leading a life and making decisions that make me feel at ease. ANUSHKA SHARMA, ACTOR

What drives you the most in your personal and professional spheres?

For me, it’s very important to become a better person and a better version of myself — be it as an actor, a producer or as an entrepreneur. But at the end, all of that is encapsulated in one thing — being a better person. And I just want to be that. It’s a very simple thing and a cliché, but I don’t care, as that’s the only thing that I am concerned with. Every decision of my life is a result of that process.

Besides acting, you seem to be experimenting with your career decisions too?

If your focus is personal growth, you acquire and experiment with a lot of things, and that’s how it has always been [for me]. I did not plan a lot of things in my life, but I ended up doing them because I was constantly working on myself. So everything that I do is a part of that. Doing challenging things helps me grow. Yes, I am used to doing certain things that I do well, but I also want to experiment with what I am not used to. I want to challenge myself.

But doesn’t it ever become too much to handle?

I would feel very confined if I don’t do things that I like to do. And I think that if I have the ability and the capacity to venture out into different areas and increase my ability, then why not? I guess when you do more things, you increase your ability.

So, the idea is to strike the right balance.

Yes, and also, if something doesn’t give me peace of mind, I don’t do it. So, for example, marketing myself crazily won’t give me peace of mind and will only take away my peace instead. My thinking is, you work hard for so many hours in a day, and compromise on your sleep and your health and everything else. But for what? To not be at peace? It doesn’t make any sense, so why would I do that?

I did not plan a lot of things in my life, but I ended up doing them because I was constantly working on myself. ANUSHKA SHARMA, ACTOR

PHOTO: PRASAD NAIK

ERRIKOS ANDREOU