Anushka Shetty: I look for films that push me out of my comfort zone

Anushka Shetty, whose Telugu film Ghaati releases on September 5, marks 20 years in cinema this year. She recalls her first day on the sets of the 2005 film Super: “Nagarjuna sir, Sonu Sood and I were filming at Annapurna Studios, and during the break, Supriya Yarlagadda (the studio director and Nagarjuna’s niece) walked in and we celebrated her birthday.”

“I was extremely nervous,” Anushka says. “It took me a couple of years to find my footing. While working on Vikramarkuduand Arundhati, I reminded myself that millions would want to be in my place. I decided to learn as much as I could and be enriched by the experience. That realisation made the journey enjoyable.”

Some things have not changed. She still feels butterflies at the start of a new film. “The first day is tough; it takes me about a week to settle in.” For her, this phase is not about finding her character’s rhythm — it is about understanding the team. “When talking to a director, cinematographer, or crew, some things are expressed in words, others in pauses. I try to read both, to respond intuitively. If we are going to work together for months, building that understanding helps me explore the character more freely,” she explains.

For Ghaati, director Krish narrated the story to Anushka on Vijayadasami 2023 — 13 years after they first collaborated on Vedam. “Krish is an incredible storyteller. I was floored by both the story and my character, Sheelavathy. Ghaati isn’t a fantasy tale; Krish even showed me newspaper clippings about marijuana cultivation on the Eastern Ghats and how thousands of kilograms were seized and burnt by the police. This story is about the people living on the ghats. At its heart, it’s a beautiful love story between Sheela and Desi Raju (Vikram Prabhu),” she explains.

Rustic action

The film also features Anushka in action sequences, which she explains are grounded in emotional reasoning. They showcase Sheela, who carries 100–200 kilograms and treks the ghats, using her physical strength to defend herself and her community. “The action isn’t about finesse; it’s about how a native woman would fight. Ram Krishan has choreographed the sequences brilliantly,” she says.

An added perk was soaking in the sweeping views of the Eastern Ghats along the Andhra–Odisha border and meeting the locals. “I met a 102-year-old woman and was stunned by her strength and innocence. Most people here are untouched by urban lifestyle. Some of the younger lot are embracing technological advancements.” She also recalls filming at dawn on a day that coincided with a regional festival. “The sunrise was spectacular, and the people on the ghats were in a celebratory mood. It felt surreal to trek to these locations, often with no network until we returned to the hotel at night.”

The need to reinvent herself

Reflecting on her journey, Anushka says inhabiting diverse roles, from Vikramarkudu and Billa to Rudhramadevi, Size Zero and Baahubali, has allowed her to keep reinventing herself. “None of this was planned; these films came to me at the right time. To this day, I hold (producer) Shyam Prasad Reddy garu in high regard. He cast me in Arundhati when I was still a newcomer.” The socio-fantasy blockbuster proved to be a turning point in her career.

Yet, Anushka insists the success of Arundhati never dictated her choices. “Some people advised me against playing a sex worker like Saroja in Vedam right after being Jejamma in Arundhati. But I wanted to be a part of Vedam. I have always believed that stories come to us for a reason. I follow my heart, and in the process, I’ve had the chance to work with some truly wonderful people.”

Anushka acknowledges the audience’s support for her eclectic choices. “People have been so gracious with their love. The least I can do is be honest with my work. At the end of every film, what matters to me is that the journey has been beautiful. We give years of our life to a project, and I don’t want to look back with regrets.”

Red flag

What has sustained her, Anushka says, is the instinct to step outside her comfort zone. “I’m only as good as my last film. If I get too comfortable and stop learning, that’s a red flag. After Arundhati, I was offered similar roles but I chose not to repeat myself.”

She will next be seen in Baahubali – The Epic, a combined cut of the two films, releasing to mark a decade of Baahubali: The Beginning.

She is also looking forward to director Rojin Thomas’ Malayalam film Kathanar, based on the folklore of Kadamattathu Kathanar. “I am proud that Kathanar is part of my filmography. My character, Nila, comes from a story told by a team deeply passionate about cinema.”

Before signing off, Anushka reflects on her low-key presence: “I cannot put myself out there forcefully; it has to happen organically. I am not on social media because I don’t understand it.”