She was not introduced with the poise and glamour associated with typical Yash Raj heroines. But newcomer Anushka Sharma, who danced her way into audiences’ hearts with Shah Rukh Khan in “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi”, says she can always glam up for her next film for the banner.

“Even when girls are presented as ’seedhi-saadhi’ in a Yash Raj film, she is glamorous. And coming from a glam background I wouldn’t have minded being glossy in my first film. But you know what? This was such a huge opportunity. 

“I couldn’t have asked for more. I fell in love with my character and the film. It’s a dream role for any debutante. I can always get into chiffon saris in the next Yash Raj film. Or the one after that…,” Anushka told IANS. 

“Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi” was released in December last year and now the actress is dying to face the camera again. But she will have to wait as her next film with Shahid Kapoor for the banner is not going to start soon. 

“They (Yash Raj) will have to decide what I’m doing next. I realise I love the process of acting. I’m also itching to get back in front of the camera,” said Anushka, who is under contract with the banner for two more films . 

There’s also talk that Anushka was kept away from media attention much too long. 

“Yash Raj looked after me very well through the making of ‘Rab Ne…’ They did keep me out of the limelight. But that served my purpose – I wanted to focus completely on my first film,” she said. 

Though she has made a mark for herself in the film industry with her debut movie, she still loves her modelling work. 

“I love the ramp and the backstage banter. I moved to Mumbai a year ago. Movies were not a priority. I don’t come from a film background, don’t know how the industry works. I didn’t know anyone here,” she said. 

But Anushka was always a huge Shah Rukh fan. 

“My dad is in the army and when they would’ve these functions in the mess, I’d dance to Shah Rukh’s ‘Kitabe bahut si padhi hogi’ from ‘Baazigar’. I must’ve been three years old at that time. I’m not just Shah Rukh’s fan, I’m his true blue admirer. I always loved the way he conducted himself. Now after having worked with him I love him even more. ‘Rab Ne…’ was like my school where Shah Rukh and Adi were my teachers.” 

Anushka didn’t have to make a strenuous effort to act. 

“Even modelling is a kind of performance. On the ramp you are representing a concept. In a film you’re projecting an individual. But the transition wasn’t hard for me. Because in real life I’m as simple as the girl I play in ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’. Yes, I do like to dress up and walk the ramp. But that isn’t the real me,” she said. 

Anushka grew up in Bangalore and says she was lucky to spend her formative years there. 

“Otherwise, army officers who give their lives for the country (and I’m proud to be born to a soldier) could be posted anywhere in the back of the beyond. That gets really tough on their kids. Me and my brother (who used to be a state-level cricketer) got the best of education in Bangalore,” she said.