It's not Anushka Sharma's beauty that has been getting her attention recently. It's her choice of unique roles and her award winning acting ability that is making tabloids go ga-ga over her. So while the whole of India was celebrating Diwali this year, she was busy acting on the streets of New York for Parmeet Sethi's debut movie produced by Yash Raj Films. The towering beauty is back in Mumbai after a gruelling one month outdoor schedule. But if you thought that all ends here, you've got it wrong.


She will be packing her bags to go to Bangkok on November 5 for yet another outdoor schedule along with Shahid Kapoor, Veer Das and Chang, her co-stars in the film. Anushka's warm and accepting personality shines through when you talk to her, and you feel instantly comfortable. Add to that her silly good one liners and you know you're in company. We had a quick chat with her about her American dream, her grocery shopping in the US, her clubbing days down West, her passion for stand up comedians and also Akshay Kumar's humorous antics.

Let's talk about your American Dream?

(Laughs) I've never had any American Dream. I just had a schedule to finish in America. We were shooting in New York and Philadelphia.

How did America treat you?

American way of working is very different from what you shoot out here. You work in a twelve hour shift, a twelve hour turn around had to be there. So you are certain that you will get free at a particular time. It then becomes easier to plan things like shopping, sight seeing, or going to any restaurant, etc. After Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi happened, I've only lived in Mumbai. I did go to Macau for IIFA and to London for some event but never stayed back for more than two days there. In America, I can proudly say that I've stayed there for more than a month. After spending time in New York, I found that America was such a free nation. Far different from what people can ever imagine. I loved it.

I'm sure you mustn't have been put up in a hotel if you stayed there for more than a month.

Yes, you're right. I stayed for such a long time that I was put up for a while in a service apartment. I used to go and get my own grocery out there. I used to go to the park, etc. I was a complete anonymous person out there. I walked the streets and read a book in one of the beautiful parks. It made me extremely happy and relaxed.

Would you love to stay back in America?

I wish. Before I left Mumbai, I didn't think that I would like America so much. Now I have realised, after staying there for a month, I really love the United States. What I like about America is that everybody is free to do their own stuff their way. Unlike other cities in Europe or London. I somehow liked the culture out there. If there is one place I'd go back for my long vacation, it'll be New York. I know I can stay there but not for good.

What about night life and clubbing in the U.S?

Yes I did. I went to this really nice lounge kind of a place. It wasn't a clubbing place. It's called '230 fifth'. That's the name of the lounge. It is the name of the street where the lounge is, thus the name. It has a roof top garden and a penthouse lounge. You can see the whole Manhattan skyline from there.

What about your co-stars? You guys bonded well?

Of course we did. They were there along with Parmeet Sethi, our director, who sometimes would accompany us. We all went together, Shahid, Chang, Veer, Ameera. We would eat and drink out and that's how we tried to bond together because it's a film about friends and friendship. It was like a group of people who would go out and have a good time. That's what we did in New York.

Any screaming fans of yours on the rooftop?

(Laughs) Not on the rooftop. But something did happen in a mall out there. They approached me and asked me, ''Are you Anushka Sharma?'' I was feeling a bit naughty and obnoxious. So I said, ''No I am not. But a lot of people do tell me I look like her'' (laughs). Then they ask their second round of questions, ''Where are you from?'' I answer, ''Kolkata''. ''What are you doing in America?'' to which I'd answer, ''I've come here to study''. But I'd get back to them and apologise, ''Sorry sorry. You can come and get your picture clicked with me'', I say. I do things like these for fun.

What a prankster you are Anushka

I am but not while we are working. I don't exactly know how to play pranks but when you're shooting on an outdoor schedule where there is so much money being spent, you rather not play any pranks. But there was Veer Das, the famous stand up comedian who used to crack me up by his good one liners and comic talent. I wanted to go to some comedy club where I could see stand up comedians perform live. Unfortunately, I couldn't.

All geared up to face another stand up comedian, Akshay Kumar, in your third big venture?

I met Akshay before leaving for America and he is so funny. You just come to know that he is up to something. You feel as if he is about to crack a joke or say something quite weird. He suddenly asked me, ''You take jokes na?'' That's how Akshay is. He prepares you before he gets prepared (laughs).