Anushka Sharma is one of Bollywood’s most respected leading actresses and producers, known for choosing unconventional, content-driven roles across a career spanning more than a decade in Hindi cinema.
She rose to fame with Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi opposite Shah Rukh Khan, cemented her status with Band Baaja Baaraat and PK, and went on to co-found the production banner Clean Slate Filmz, which backed acclaimed titles such as NH10, Paatal Lok and Bulbbul. She is also widely recognised as the wife of cricket icon Virat Kohli.
Anushka Sharma Quick Facts
| Full Name | Anushka Sharma |
| Profession | Actress, Film Producer |
| Date of Birth | 1 May 1988 |
| Age | 38 years (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Years Active | 2008–present |
| Debut | Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008) |
| Breakthrough | Band Baaja Baaraat (2010) |
| Total Movies | 22 films (21 released, 1 upcoming) |
| Known For | PK, Sultan, Sanju, Jab Tak Hai Jaan |
| Parents | Col. Ajay Kumar Sharma (father), Ashima Sharma (mother) |
| Siblings | Karnesh Sharma (elder brother, film producer) |
| Spouse | Virat Kohli (m. 2017) |
| Production House | Clean Slate Filmz (co-founder, 2013) |
| Education | Mount Carmel College, Bangalore (B.A.) |
Anushka Sharma Career in Numbers
Across nearly two decades in the film industry, Anushka Sharma has built a filmography defined more by variety and critical acclaim than sheer volume, alongside a parallel career as a successful film and web-series producer.
| Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Movies | 22 films (21 released, 1 upcoming) |
| Career Span | 2008–present (18 years) |
| Recognition | 8 Filmfare nominations, 1 win; 3 IIFA Awards; Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 (2018) |
| Notable Year | 2018 – three releases (Sanju, Sui Dhaaga, Zero) |
| Breakthrough | Band Baaja Baaraat (2010) established her as a leading actress |
Early Life and Family
Anushka Sharma was born on 1 May 1988 in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, to Colonel Ajay Kumar Sharma, a retired Indian Army officer, and Ashima Sharma, a homemaker. Owing to her father’s military postings, she grew up largely in Bangalore and studied at St. Mary’s School in Margherita, Assam, followed by an Army School in Bangalore. She later graduated with a B.A. in Arts from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore. She has often credited her disciplined military upbringing for shaping her work ethic and independent outlook.
Her elder brother, Karnesh Sharma, previously served in the Merchant Navy before becoming a film producer and later her business partner in Clean Slate Filmz. Before entering films, Anushka pursued modelling in Mumbai with Elite Model Management, making her runway debut at Lakme Fashion Week in 2007 for designer Wendell Rodricks, and fronting campaigns for brands including Whisper and Fiat Palio.
Anushka Sharma Career Journey
Debut and Early Years (2008–2011)
Anushka Sharma made a striking Bollywood debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Yash Raj Films’ Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008), which became a major commercial success and earned her Filmfare nominations for Best Actress and Best Female Debut. She followed this with Badmaash Company (2010) and Patiala House (2011), gradually building her presence in mainstream Hindi cinema.
Breakthrough and Rising Stardom (2010–2014)
Her real breakthrough came with Band Baaja Baaraat (2010), a sleeper hit in which her performance as an ambitious Delhi wedding planner won widespread critical praise and a Filmfare Best Actress nomination. She consolidated this momentum with Ladies vs Ricky Bahl (2011) and won her first Filmfare award, Best Supporting Actress, for Yash Chopra’s Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012). She then starred in Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola (2013) before delivering one of the biggest hits of her career, Rajkumar Hirani’s PK (2014), which became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all time.
Producer and Leading Actress (2015–2018)
In 2015, Anushka turned producer with the crime thriller NH10, in which she also starred, marking the launch of Clean Slate Filmz. The same year she featured in Bombay Velvet and the ensemble drama Dil Dhadakne Do, which brought her another Filmfare Best Supporting Actress nomination. She went on to headline major hits including Sultan (2016) opposite Salman Khan, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), and reunited with Shah Rukh Khan for Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017), while also producing and starring in the horror film Pari (2018). In 2018 alone she appeared in three releases — Sanju, Sui Dhaaga and Zero — cementing her range as an actress.
Production Ventures and Recent Work (2020–Present)
After Zero, Anushka stepped back from regular acting to focus on family and production, with Clean Slate Filmz backing the Netflix film Bulbbul (2020) and the acclaimed Amazon Prime series Paatal Lok (2020). She made a brief on-screen appearance in the musical drama Qala (2022), a Clean Slate Filmz co-production, and has since been preparing for her return to lead roles with the sports biopic Chakda ‘Xpress, in which she plays former Indian cricket captain Jhulan Goswami.
Anushka Sharma Movies: Complete Filmography
Anushka Sharma has featured in a total of 22 films across her career as an actress and producer — 21 released and 1 upcoming — spanning romance, comedy, drama, thriller and horror genres.
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi | Taani Sahni | Acting debut; Filmfare Best Actress & Best Debut nominations |
| 2010 | Badmaash Company | Bulbul Singh | With Shahid Kapoor |
| 2010 | Band Baaja Baaraat | Shruti Kakkar | Breakthrough role; sleeper hit |
| 2011 | Patiala House | Simran Chaggal | With Akshay Kumar |
| 2011 | Ladies vs Ricky Bahl | Ishika Desai | Romantic comedy |
| 2012 | Jab Tak Hai Jaan | Akira Rai | Filmfare Best Supporting Actress (Winner) |
| 2013 | Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola | Bijlee Mandola | Satirical comedy-drama |
| 2014 | PK | Jagat Janini “Jaggu” Sahni | One of the highest-grossing Bollywood films ever |
| 2015 | NH10 | Meera | Also producer; Clean Slate Filmz debut production |
| 2015 | Bombay Velvet | Rosie Noronha | Period crime drama |
| 2015 | Dil Dhadakne Do | Farah Ali | Filmfare Best Supporting Actress nomination |
| 2016 | Sultan | Aarfa Hussain | Major commercial blockbuster |
| 2016 | Ae Dil Hai Mushkil | Alizeh Khan | Filmfare Best Actress nomination |
| 2017 | Phillauri | Shashi Kumari | Also sang a playback song |
| 2017 | Jab Harry Met Sejal | Sejal Zaveri | Third pairing with Shah Rukh Khan |
| 2018 | Pari | Rukhsana | Also producer; horror film |
| 2018 | Sanju | Winnie Diaz | Major commercial blockbuster |
| 2018 | Sui Dhaaga | Mamta Sharma | Filmfare Best Actress (Critics) nomination |
| 2018 | Zero | Aafia Yusufzai Bhinder | Played a scientist with cerebral palsy |
| 2020 | Bulbbul | — | Producer only; Netflix horror film |
| 2022 | Qala | Devika | Cameo appearance; Clean Slate Filmz co-production |
| TBA | Chakda ‘Xpress | Jhulan Goswami | Upcoming; sports biopic, marks acting comeback |
Anushka Sharma Awards and Achievements
| Year | Award | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Filmfare Best Female Debut (Nomination) | For Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi |
| 2010 | Filmfare Best Actress (Nomination) | For Band Baaja Baaraat |
| 2012 | Filmfare Best Supporting Actress (Winner) | For Jab Tak Hai Jaan |
| 2015 | Filmfare Best Supporting Actress (Nomination) | For Dil Dhadakne Do |
| 2016 | Filmfare Best Actress (Nomination) | For Ae Dil Hai Mushkil |
| 2018 | Filmfare Best Actress Critics (Nomination) | For Sui Dhaaga |
| 2018 | Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 | Recognised for entrepreneurship via Clean Slate Filmz |
Anushka Sharma Personal Life
Anushka Sharma married Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli on 11 December 2017 in a private ceremony in Tuscany, Italy, after dating for several years. The couple, often referred to jointly as “Virushka,” are among India’s most followed celebrity pairings and are known for keeping their family life largely private.
They welcomed their daughter, Vamika, on 11 January 2021, and their son, Akaay, on 15 February 2024. Anushka has been vocal about protecting her children’s privacy, notably criticising media outlets for publishing unauthorised photos of her daughter.
Anushka Sharma Net Worth
Anushka Sharma’s income comes from a combination of film fees, brand endorsements (including TVS Scooty, Nivea and Pantene), her fashion label Nush, and her production house Clean Slate Filmz. She has been ranked among India’s highest-paid actresses in various industry reports.
Estimated Net Worth: Approximately ₹250 crore.
Net worth figures are estimates based on publicly reported information, such as media reports, published rich lists and election affidavits. They are not audited financial statements and may not account for liabilities, family holdings or changes in asset values.
Lesser-Known Facts About Anushka Sharma
- She initially aspired to become a model or journalist and only turned to acting after starting her modelling career in Mumbai.
- She refused an impromptu screen test for Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and insisted on a day to prepare before auditioning.
- She learned the Punjabi dialect for Band Baaja Baaraat and trained in wrestling along with the Haryanvi dialect for Sultan.
- She has been a practising vegetarian since 2015 and is known for her interest in Transcendental Meditation.
- She is an active animal rights supporter, having launched the “Pawsitivity” campaign and received recognition from PETA.
- Her brother Karnesh Sharma, a former Merchant Navy officer, co-founded Clean Slate Filmz with her and now runs it independently.
Legacy and Impact
Anushka Sharma is widely credited with challenging conventional Bollywood heroine roles, consistently choosing scripts that prioritised strong, unconventional female characters over glamour. Through Clean Slate Filmz, she also helped bring gritty, content-driven cinema and web series such as Paatal Lok to mainstream audiences, expanding her influence well beyond acting into shaping the kind of stories Indian audiences see on screen.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anushka Sharma
When was Anushka Sharma born?
Anushka Sharma was born on 1 May 1988 in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India.
What was Anushka Sharma’s debut film?
She made her acting debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008).
Who is Anushka Sharma married to?
She is married to Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli; the couple wed on 11 December 2017 in Italy and have two children, Vamika and Akaay.
What is Anushka Sharma’s production house?
She co-founded Clean Slate Filmz in 2013 along with her brother Karnesh Sharma, producing titles such as NH10, Paatal Lok and Bulbbul.
Has Anushka Sharma won a Filmfare Award?
Yes, she won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012), alongside seven other Filmfare nominations.
What is Anushka Sharma’s upcoming film?
She is set to return to acting with Chakda ‘Xpress, a sports biopic in which she plays former Indian cricket captain Jhulan Goswami.
Final Summary
Anushka Sharma’s journey from a young model in Mumbai to one of Bollywood’s most respected actresses and producers reflects a career built on deliberate, unconventional choices rather than sheer volume of films. From her debut in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi to landmark performances in PK, Sultan and Sanju, she has consistently balanced commercial success with critical acclaim.
Beyond acting, her work as a producer through Clean Slate Filmz and her role as a public figure alongside husband Virat Kohli have cemented her as one of India’s most influential entertainment personalities, with her upcoming return in Chakda ‘Xpress keenly anticipated by fans and critics alike.