From Khan to Khan

Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, who was last seen in Vishal Bhardwaj's Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola, is all set to return to silver-screen with Rajkumar Hirani's latest film P.K. We catch up with her to talk about the film and more.

You started your career with Shah Rukh Khan and now you're working with Aamir Khan. How does it feel when you look at your journey?

What do you think? (Laughs) I feel awesome. It's an amazing feeling. For someone like me who has done just a few films but still got a chance to work with people like Rajukumar Hirani, Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, it pushes you in terms of experience. It makes you evaluate your own work and films. So it's really great.

How did this film happen?

I met him at a trial of a film when he narrated the story to me. I was touched by the film and a bit lost. So, we met there and he said that he was going to start casting for his next film soon. But since I was lost, I just nodded my head to everything he said. Next morning I woke up and it clicked me that he was actually talking about a role to me. So, I texted him saying, "Sorry sir, I didn't realise that you were offering a film. But if you weren't, please ignore this text." (Laughs) So, then he called me and told me about the character.

Since the story of the film has been kept secret, many people are coming with their own version. What's the latest that you've heard?

I've been hearing lots of them. Somebody even asked me if I am playing a drunkard in the film. I think it's nice that the people are thinking. Hopefully, they all will come and watch it.

How difficult was it to play this character?

I didn't find it difficult but there were a few things that I had to work on. Like for example, Rajkumar sir told me, "You are a very good actress but you make some weird expressions that I don't like, so we will work on it. I will point it to you when you do it so you can change it." (Laughs) I also had to speak slow because I speak very fast. So there were a few things like that. However, I couldn't do something radical apart from the look. She is a Delhi girl and I think I have played it differently. It's a bit mature character.

Did you give any input from your side?

When you're working with people like Abhijat Joshi and Rajkumar Hirani, I don't think you need to do much. I just used to do what was expected of me. Hopefully, I've been able to manage that in the film.

Aamir Khan is known to be a prankster. Did he trouble you on the sets?

You know one thing about Aamir is that he talks very seriously. You can't read his expressions. I mean I can't make out if he is joking or actually serious so I get anxiety and he had a good time playing jokes on me. But he's really good that way. He will come later and tell me it was a joke.

Can you recall one of the incidents?

Once both of us were invited to a party and I asked him if he's going and he said, "No yaar, I won't go as it will get very late." So, I said that I won't go there either because I wasn't really feeling so well and I was tired after shooting. Next he comes to the sets and says, "Arrey, tu kal party mein nahi aayi?" So, I asked, "Aap gaye the?" He replies, "Nahi, I went there and I even told them that you finished shooting before me." I got so mad at him but he is really funny. (Laughs)