Anushka Sharma is an Indian actress and producer. She has a career in Hindi cinema and is one of the most popular and best paid actresses in India. She has received several awards, including a Filmfare Award of seven nominations. Born in Ayodhya and raised in Bangalore, Sharma had her first model assignment with fashion designer Wendell Rodricks in 2007 and then moved to Mumbai to pursue a full-time modeling career.

Sharma was raised in Bangalore. She was educated at the Army School and received a degree in arts from Mount Carmel College. Initially, she intended to pursue a career as a model or journalist and had no ambition to be an actress. After graduating, Sharma moved to Mumbai to pursue her modeling career. She enrolled in Elite Model Management and was prepared by Prasad Bidapa style consultant. In 2007, Sharma debuted at the Lakme Fashion Week for the show Vamps by designer Wendell Rodricks and was chosen to be her final model in the Spring-Summer 2007 collection. Since then she has directed campaigns for brands Silk & Shine, Whisper, Nathella Jewelry and Fiat Palio. Sharma later said, “I think I was born to move and act, I went down the ramp and smiled and they used to say,” Give us a blank look. “It was really hard not to smile.” During modeling, Sharma also joined a theater school and began auditioning for film roles.

Sharma debuted as an actor against Shah Rukh Khan in the hit romantic film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008), which won her a Filmfare award for Best Actress nomination. She has played a leading role with leading roles in the Yash Raj Films Baaja Baaraat (2010) and Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012) novels; the latter, in which she played the role of aspiring filmmaker, earned her the award for best supporting actress at the Filmfare. She then earned praise and several nominations for her role as avenger in the 2015 thriller of NH10, which also marked her debut in production, a dancer in the comedy drama Dil Dhadakne Do 2015 and a free woman in the romantic 2016. drama Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. The most important releases of Sharma were made with the Sultan sport drama (2016) and the religious satire of Rajkumar Hirani, PK (2014) and the Sanju biopic; all three rank among the most profitable Indian films.

In addition to acting in films, Sharma is the ambassador of several brands and products and has designed her own line of women’s clothing called Nush. She supports various works and causes, including gender equality and animal rights, and co-founded the production company Clean Slate Films. Sharma is married to cricket player Virat Kohli.