Stardom cannot happen without talent, says 'Zero' actor Anushka Sharma

Anushka Sharma entered Bollywood with the film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, and she soon made her mark in tinsel town. From actor to producer, to entrepreneur, she gradually became stronger.

But it wasn’t always easy for Anushka. The actress candidly reveals, “In the beginning, no one praised me. It wasn’t like ‘wow’. Karan (Johar) had not liked me and told Aditya Chopra ‘don’t sign her’. But after Band Baja Baraat, he changed his opinion and praised me. If I am good enough, that’s the way it will happen. It happens to everyone. People pass judgments. It’s unfair but it’s good that they do that. If you feel zero in the beginning, it helps you go ahead. If you are praised, it is the beginning of your downfall. I don’t hold grudges against anyone and I forget a lot of things about the past. People do say good, bad and ugly things. I have a very strong quality: I genuinely forget all the unpleasant things. People with bitter mindset will always talk negatively; logon ka kam hai kehna. I just believe in working hard and moving ahead.”

Anushka is still basking in the success with her last outing, Sui Dhaaga, which was a hit at the BO. She is also enjoying a blissful married life. So ask her if she would like to be remembered as a popular star or a great actor, and she wisely says, “As a good human being. The audience is very intelligent. Today, there are YouTube stars. People follow different things and good entertainment. Stardom cannot happen without talent. That’s the way it is. People don’t care about the budgets. Even Badhaii Ho has done well. The era is different and people want to see good things.”

So will she miss stardom once she has stopped facing the cameras? Anushka unhesitatingly replies, “I genuinely think I will not miss stardom in the future. I was never attached to it. I have come up with this rule since the time I entered the industry. I am not dependent on anything. I never get attached to anything. If you are dependent on anything, you become a slave to it. I am not a slave to anything, neither success nor failure. I have not followed any trend.” She adds, “My life is like a shahenshah. I am very happy with my life. I started my career very early and went on to do different kinds of roles. I got married at the age of 29, when many would want to concentrate on their career. I became an entrepreneur and producer at 25. I took the risk. I have never worked with fear. To hold on to success is fear. I am doing a lot at my age. I opine that an identity gets made on its own; one has to work hard. I am enjoying everything in this phase.”