Not Lara Croft: Anushka Shetty

Anushka Shetty’s 'Varna' will see a big release this Friday. Though the Selva Raghavan-directed film has Arya as the lead actor, the focus is on Anushka as she has a huge fan following in Andhra Pradesh. “The film is about love. I am playing Ramya, a doctor,” she says, adding that it’s a socio-fantasy film.”

“The story takes place in two worlds. One is the present while the other is a fantasy world,” she adds. Talking about competing with other leading ladies in the industry, Anushka humbly says, “Stars are always bigger. They bring the audience to the theatres. More than that, they do a lot of work in a film and they are always on top. I am in no way competing with them.”

“I don’t believe in stardom or in the number game. What I concentrate more is on my work and how I can improve my character.”

When pointed out that she had now been involved in projects nearly worth Rs 200 crore, she says that she never thinks about budgets. “When I sign a film, I look at my character and I blindly follow the director. I never think about the budget of the film,” she adds.

Anushka had to learn sword fighting and horse riding in the last two films and says that on a personal level, it helped a lot. “It helps me remain fit and it always helps to know something new.”

Thanks to the roles she is playing, some are calling her the Lara Croft of Tollywood, but Anushka laughs off the compliment. “Lara Croft is completely different; the way she does the action scenes and maintains her body in perfect condition... I can’t compete with her in any way.”

Asked whether she is at the peak of her career at present, Anushka says, “When I did 'Arundhati', people commented that that was the best of me. Now that I am bigger than that film they are now saying that this is my best. It’s all about good scripts. Maybe after a couple of years I will get bigger than these three films.”