‘I genuinely look up to Aishwarya’

Mumbai, Feb 22: Personally, and professionally, things couldn’t be better for anushka sharma. the producer talks about films, friends and more...

There is more to my life than my relationship,” states Anushka Sharma, as she settles down for a candid chat in her plush 20th floor apartment. But her relationship is not a subject that’s easy to avoid. While several of her contemporaries continue to dodge questions about their relationship status, Anushka and Virat Kohli’s open acknowledgement was a welcome change. “We’re both self-respecting people. There was nothing that we wanted to hide and, hence, we did come out and accept that we’re in a relationship,” Anushka says, quickly adding, “But there is nothing more that we’d want to talk about. We have shown respect to the media by speaking the truth, now it’s their turn to understand where to draw the line.”

One cannot miss the gleam in her eyes as we say the words “World Cup”, what with her beau scoring a ton in the crucial India-Pakistan encounter. However, we don’t dwell on that. There’s too much of her own work to talk about. Following in the footsteps of her actor friends Priyanka Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor, she too has taken the plunge into production. Her maiden venture NH10 is ready to hit the screens bang in the middle of the cricket extravaganza.

“Ranbir had started working on Jagga Jasoos and I had started NH10 while we were shooting together for Bombay Velvet. Honestly, we never spoke about our maiden productions. It’s not like we were consciously avoiding discussing our respective films. It’s just that we didn’t end up talking shop,” she says matter-of-factly,” she says. Anushka continues, “There are stories and roles that I want to play. Chances are that other filmmakers might not agree to make those films. I wanted to make NH10 because I believed in the script. Fortunately, my partners’ Phantom films and Anurag Kashyap were supportive and agreed to come on board. Certainly, I want to make more films, but I’m not in a mad rush. NH10 is the beginning. I’m sure I’ll get a chance to make lots of films.”

After the success of PK, Anushka’s father wrote a letter to director Raju Hirani thanking him and expressing his happiness. “I truly believe that more than actions, your words describe your state of mind. My father wrote to both Raju sir and me saying that he was proud of us,” she says with a smile. The success of PK paved the way for Karan Johar’s directorial venture Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. “I’m looking forward to working with Aishwarya (Rai Bachchan). Even though we only have just one scene together, I know I’m only going to look at her in awe. I’ve grown up watching her films and her growth as an actor and as a person. I genuinely look up to her,” she gushes. “The film is a simple romantic film. For a change, it’ll not have the grandeur but will have the true essence of a quintessential Karan Johar film. As co-stars Karan and I worked in Bombay Velvet and we get along well,” she adds.

Anushka’s equation and mutual respect with her filmmaker friends like Anurag Kashyap, Karan and Aditya Chopra is evident in all their collaborations. We quiz her if that’s the equation and comfort she shares with her rival actresses. “Of course actresses can be good friends. I’ve worked with Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra and I’ve shared a cordial and very comfortable equation with them. Friendship is not spending time together during breaks or discussing clothes and make-up. It’s about respecting the person and being comfortable in their presence. It was an absolute delight to work with Priyanka, Ranveer Singh and Farhan Akhtar in Dil Dhadakne Do.”

The mention of Ranveer Singh takes us back in time when the duo said they were just “good friends”. One wonders how their chemistry is like in present times. Ask her that and she doesn’t really address the question. “Ranveer and I have shared our big success together at the initial stage of our respective careers. I’m very fond of him. His ability to choose the right film at the right time and his patience has worked for him. I’m very happy and proud of his growth as an actor and a star,” she says.

She’s one of the youngest in the industry but she has juggled a variety of roles right from Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Band Baajaa Baraat to NH10. “I’ve always believed that one should focus on the quality of work... other things like success, fame and money will follow. I don’t recall a single time when I was lured into doing a film for money. The criteria was and will always be the script and the filmmaker,” she says.