Anushka Sharma facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anushka Sharma
Sharma promoting Zero in 2018
Born	(1988-05-01) 1 May 1988 (age 37) Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India
Alma mater	Mount Carmel College (B.A)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2008–2022
Spouse(s)	Virat Kohli ​ (m. 2017)​
Children	2
Awards	Full list
Signature

Anushka Sharma (born 1 May 1988) is a famous Indian actress. She works mainly in Hindi films. She has won many awards, including a Filmfare Award. Forbes India listed her among the top 100 celebrities in the 2010s. Forbes Asia also featured her in their "30 Under 30" list in 2018.

Anushka was born in Ayodhya and grew up in Bangalore. She started her modeling career in 2007 for designer Wendell Rodricks. Later, she moved to Mumbai to become a full-time model. She made her acting debut in 2008 with the romantic film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. In this film, she starred opposite Shah Rukh Khan.

She became very popular with lead roles in romantic films like Band Baaja Baaraat (2010) and Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012). For Jab Tak Hai Jaan, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Anushka also earned praise for playing strong characters in films such as NH10 (2015), Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), and Sui Dhaaga (2018).

Her biggest hit movies include the sports drama Sultan (2016), and Rajkumar Hirani's films PK (2014) and Sanju (2018). After the film Zero (2018), she took a break from acting.

Anushka was also a co-founder of the production company Clean Slate Filmz. Through this company, she produced films and series like NH10, Paatal Lok (2020), and Bulbbul (2020). She promotes many brands and has her own clothing line called Nush. She also supports various charities, including gender equality and animal rights. Anushka is married to the famous cricketer Virat Kohli. They have two children together.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Anushka Sharma was born on 1 May 1988 in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. Her father, Ajay Kumar Sharma, was an army officer. Her mother, Ashima Sharma, is a homemaker. Her older brother, Karnesh Sharma, is a film producer. He used to work in the Merchant Navy.

Anushka has said that growing up as a military brat (a child of a military parent) helped shape her personality. In an interview, she shared that she is very proud to be an army officer's daughter.

She grew up in Bangalore. She went to St. Mary's School in Assam for primary schooling. Later, she finished her schooling at Army School, Bangalore. She then earned her degree in arts from Mount Carmel College in Bangalore.

Anushka first wanted to be a model or a journalist. She did not plan to become an actress. After college, she moved to Mumbai to focus on modeling. She joined Elite Model Management. In 2007, she made her first appearance on the runway at Lakme Fashion Week. She modeled for designer Wendell Rodricks. She also worked on campaigns for brands like Whisper and Fiat Palio. While modeling, Anushka also joined an acting school and started auditioning for film roles.

Acting Journey

First Steps to Stardom (2008–2013)

Anushka Sharma started her acting career in 2008. Her first film was Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, a romantic drama directed by Aditya Chopra. She starred opposite Shah Rukh Khan. She played Tani Sahni, a young bride. The film was a big success. It was the second-highest earning Hindi film of 2008. Anushka was nominated for Filmfare Awards for Best Actress and Best Female Debut.

Two years later, in 2010, Anushka played the lead in Badmaash Company. This crime-comedy was about four friends who start a scam business. Later that year, she starred in Band Baaja Baaraat. This romantic comedy was directed by Maneesh Sharma. She played Shruti Kakkar, an ambitious girl who starts a wedding planning business. Many people doubted the film's success. However, Band Baaja Baaraat received good reviews and became a surprise hit. Critics praised Anushka's performance. She received another nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

Sharma with co-star Ranveer Singh at the DVD launch of Band Baaja Baaraat in 2010

In 2011, Anushka appeared in Patiala House. She played the love interest of Akshay Kumar's character. Later that year, she reunited with Ranveer Singh and director Maneesh Sharma in Ladies vs Ricky Bahl. She played Ishika Desai, a salesgirl who falls for a conman. The film had mixed reviews but was a moderate success.

In 2012, Anushka had a supporting role in Jab Tak Hai Jaan. This romance film was directed by Yash Chopra. She starred alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif. She played Akira Rai, a reporter who wants to make documentaries. For this role, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Jab Tak Hai Jaan was the third highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2012.

Anushka's next film was Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola (2013). It was a political comedy set in a village. She played Bijlee Mandola, a strong-willed girl. The film received mixed reviews and did not do well at the box office.

Big Hits and Becoming a Producer (2014–2016)

In 2014, Anushka starred in Rajkumar Hirani's PK. She played a TV journalist who becomes friends with an alien (played by Aamir Khan). Critics praised her performance. PK became the highest-grossing Bollywood film worldwide. Anushka received many awards nominations for her role. She also became the highest-earning Hindi film actress that year.

In 2013, Anushka started her own production company, Clean Slate Filmz. Her first film as a producer was NH10 (2015). She also played the main role in this thriller. The film is about a couple whose lives are in danger after meeting criminals. Anushka trained for three months to prepare for her role. Critics praised her performance. The film was also a box office success.

Sharma at an event for NH10 in 2015, which marked her production debut

In 2015, Anushka played a jazz singer in Bombay Velvet. This crime drama also starred Ranbir Kapoor. To prepare, Anushka watched old films and documentaries. The film received mixed reviews and did not do well financially. In the same year, she appeared in Dil Dhadakne Do. This comedy-drama was about a family on a cruise. She played a dancer and reunited with Ranveer Singh. Critics liked their chemistry. Anushka received Filmfare nominations for her roles in NH10 and Dil Dhadakne Do.

In 2016, Anushka starred in Sultan. This romantic sports drama featured Salman Khan. She played Aarfa Hussain, a wrestler who inspires the main character. Anushka trained for six weeks to learn wrestling. She also learned the Haryanvi language. The film was a huge success, earning a lot of money worldwide. It is one of the biggest hits in Indian cinema.

Later in 2016, Anushka had another big hit with Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. This romantic drama was directed by Karan Johar. She starred alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai. Critics praised her performance as a free-spirited girl. The film earned a lot of money worldwide. With two successful films in 2016, Anushka was ranked as the most successful Bollywood actress of the year.

Later Career and Production Focus (2017–2022)

In 2017, Anushka starred in Phillauri. In this fantasy comedy, she played a friendly ghost. Besides acting and producing, she also sang a song in the film. Her next film was Jab Harry Met Sejal, where she worked with Shah Rukh Khan again. She played a tourist in Europe who falls in love with her tour guide. Both Phillauri and Jab Harry Met Sejal did not do well at the box office.

Sharma promoting Jab Harry Met Sejal in 2017

Anushka's first film in 2018 was the horror film Pari. She starred in and produced it. She played Rukhsana, a young woman living in the wilderness. Critics praised her performance. The film earned good money compared to its budget. Next, she played a biographer in Sanju, a film about the actor Sanjay Dutt. Ranbir Kapoor played the main role. Sanju became another one of her films to earn a lot of money worldwide.

In the same year, Anushka worked with Yash Raj Films for the eighth time in Sui Dhaaga. This comedy-drama starred Varun Dhawan. It was about a poor couple who start their own clothing business. Critics praised Anushka's performance. She also received a nomination for the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress. Anushka's last film of 2018 was Zero. She reunited with Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif. She played a scientist with cerebral palsy. She worked hard to prepare for this role. However, Zero was not a commercial success.

In 2020, Anushka was an executive producer for her company's crime thriller series Paatal Lok on Amazon Prime Video. She also produced the horror film Bulbbul for Netflix. Many of her company's projects focused on themes like feminism. Critics praised her brave choices as a producer.

In 2022, Anushka announced that she would step away from her producing duties at Clean Slate Filmz. Her brother would become the sole owner. In the same year, she filmed the role of cricketer Jhulan Goswami in the film Chakda 'Xpress. This film has not been released yet.

Personal Life and Other Work

Anushka Sharma became a vegetarian in 2015. The Times of India has listed her as one of "Bollywood's hottest vegetarian celebrities." She has also been named "The Person of the Year" by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) many times. She practices Transcendental Meditation.

Sharma with her husband Virat Kohli, pictured in 2017

Anushka is a Hindu. She and her family follow Maharaj Anant Baba, their spiritual guru. Her romantic relationship with cricketer Virat Kohli has received a lot of media attention. The couple got married in Italy on 11 December 2017. They have two children: a daughter, Vamika, born in 2021, and a son, Akaay, born in 2024. Anushka is very private about her family life. She has asked the media not to share pictures of her children. In 2023, Anushka and Virat Kohli started a new charity called "SEVVA."

Anushka supports many charities and causes. In 2013, she helped raise money for girls' education. She also appeared in a commercial to spread awareness about the 'Right to Education' for children. In 2014, she auctioned a jacket she wore in a film to help flood victims in Kashmir and Assam. She also helped collect donations for victims of the April 2015 Nepal earthquake. Anushka supports the annual Mumbai Film Festival.

She has spoken out about the difference in pay between actresses and actors in the film industry. In 2016, she supported India's first transgender band, the 6-Pack Band.

Anushka is also a strong supporter of animal rights. In 2014, she asked for a ban on horse-drawn carriages in Mumbai. In 2015, she spoke against the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China. She urged her fans to sign a petition to stop it. In 2015, she started a campaign called 'Pawsitivity'. This campaign aimed to teach people about how pollution affects animals. In 2017, Anushka launched her own clothing line called Nush.

Filmography

Films

Television

Music video

Awards and Recognitions

Anushka Sharma has been nominated for many Filmfare Awards. She won the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012). She was also nominated for Best Female Debut for Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008). She received Best Actress nominations for films like Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Band Baaja Baaraat (2010), NH10 (2015), and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016). She was also nominated for Best Actress Critics for Sui Dhaaga (2018) and Best Supporting Actress for Dil Dhadakne Do (2015).

See Also

In Spanish: Anushka Sharma para niños