Actor Anushka Sharma says she shares a similar career trajectory with good friend and fellow Bangalorean Deepika Padukone.

She is all of 22 and life for her is like a fairytale. For most upcoming actors in the Hindi film industry, working with Shah Rukh Khan is a dream. Playing the demure Tanni, opposite King Khan in the reclusive Aditya Chopra’s “Rab Ne Bana di Jodi”, Anushka Sharma had a dream debut. Fans in the U.K. have compared her performance favourably to Kajol’s portrayal of Simran 14 years ago in “DDLJ”.

“It was a great experience. Though I was not keen on acting in the beginning, I enjoyed the experience. I never expected to begin my acting career opposite Shah Rukh, whom I have always considered an icon. Working for one of the biggest production industries in the country alongside top stars felt great.”

She continues… “The best part of starting your career with stalwarts such as Shah Rukh and Vinay Pathak is that you learn a lot, about the industry. Initially, I was a bit scared, but they put me at ease and helped me better my acting skills. I enjoyed working and shooting for ‘Rab Ne…’ a lot.”

Anushka was noticed when she was only 15 by fashion guru, Prasad Bidappa, and forayed into modelling, much before “Rab Ne…” happened. She says, “Initially, I thought my modelling career would be paramount and acting, secondary. That has changed now. I am now keen on furthering my acting career.” Anushka says she is working on more films for the Yash Raj banner.”

Currently working on a project with Shahid Kapoor, she says, “He is a superb actor and a gem of a person. We have a great time on the sets.”

Anushka feels luck and some amount of talent play an important role in the making of a successful actor. “I was a newcomer to the industry and managed to bag a role many experienced actors aspire for but take years to get. I never expected I would be selected. Yes, luck does play a very important role. There are many youngsters in the industry and competition is intense. ”

On her relationship with fellow Bangalorean Deepika Padukone, who also made her Bollywood debut alongside Shah Rukh in 2007 with Farah Khan’s “Om Shanti Om”, Anuskha says, “We are both from Bangalore and have had similar career trajectories in Bollywood. We are good friends.”

She feels one must have faith in the script and the character to do a good job. Will she play bolder characters that are quite different from the retiring Tanni she portrayed in her first film? “It will depend on the script. When I play a character, I have to do so with as much conviction as I can muster. When on screen, I am that character, not Anuskha Sharma.”