Sultan and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’s success made a great year for me, says Anushka Sharma

Mumbai: “Sultan” and “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” actress Anushka Sharma says she is in a happy space and wants to consolidate it by choosing roles that have “gravitas”.

“I am really happy that the films were loved and my performance was praised. It’s a great year for me. At the end of the day, when your performances are being appreciated and the films are doing well at the box office, you are in a very happy place,” Anushka says.

Both Aarfa (‘Sultan’) and Alizeh in Karan Johar’s “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” are special for Anushka as they gave her a chance to play characters that are relatable, modern women.

“I believe that the way you are as a person and your thought process influences the kind of roles you pick. You identify with certain roles because you know that these people exist even though you may not relate with them completely.

“I may not relate to Aarfa or Alizeh completely but I know that these are the women that exist. I cannot play girls who don’t have that kind of gravitas. It is important for me,” she told PTI.

In “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil”, Ranbir and Anushka reunited after the failure of “Bombay Velvet” but the actress says they were not worried that their past performance will cast a shadow on their chemistry in the film.

“Actors don’t think like that. Ranbir is very good at what he does. We don’t carry the baggage of that film or any film for that matter. ‘Ae Dil…’ had different characters and a different story. In fact, Ranbir and my chemistry is one the best in the film,” she says.

Anushka, 28, says Johar cast them because of their friendship.

“We share a great equation. We may not talk to each other all the time but whenever we meet, we get along really well, that’s the equation I have with Ranbir. This is why Karan wanted to cast us because he saw the easy relationship that we have. We don’t demand anything of each other.”

Anushka says she has learnt to use silences to her advantage as a performer. “I remember having this conversation with my friends that I would consider it an achievement if I don’t have much to say and yet convey the character’s emotions. People say that they like Aarfa most in the second half of ‘Sultan’ but she does not say much in the second half,” she says.

The actress will next be seen in Imtiaz Ali’s untitled film with Shah Rukh Khan, whose date was announced by her “Sultan” co-star Salman on Wednesday. The movie will release on August 11 next year.

“Phillauri”, the next film from her home production, will release on March 24, 2017.

PTI