A model from an army family, Anushka Sharma was cast opposite Shah Rukh Khan for her very first film, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008), and never looked back. Band Baaja Baaraat confirmed her spark, and she went on to star in three of Hindi cinema's biggest hits — PK, Sultan and Sanju — while earning a Filmfare Award for Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

At 25 she co-founded Clean Slate Filmz, producing boundary-pushing work like the thriller NH10, the gothic horror Bulbbul and the celebrated series Paatal Lok — an unusually early and successful pivot to producing for a leading actress. Married to cricketer Virat Kohli, she has appeared sparingly on screen in recent years, with the Jhulan Goswami biopic Chakda 'Xpress awaiting release on Netflix.

Filmography Highlights

• Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008) — Debut as the effervescent Taani opposite Shah Rukh Khan
• Band Baaja Baaraat (2010) — Breakout as a scrappy Delhi wedding planner
• Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012) — Filmfare-winning supporting turn in Yash Chopra's final film
• PK (2014) — Female lead in one of Hindi cinema's all-time top grossers
• NH10 (2015) — Gritty survival thriller and her first production
• Sultan (2016) — Wrestler Aarfa in the Salman Khan blockbuster
• Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016) — Karan Johar romance on unrequited love
• Sanju (2018) — Biographer role in the Sanjay Dutt biopic, a massive hit

Image: Wikimedia Commons. Part of the Top 50 Bollywood Celebrities series. Ranking inspired by popular industry listings; profiles are original editorial content.