Anushka Sharma may be just four years old in the industry but she's made a hero-centric industry sit up and take notice. From Raju Hirani to Anurag Kashyap, almost every top filmmaker is working with her. She talks to TOI-Crest about her latest film, 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan', and what it was to work with legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra in his last film

Yash Chopra's last shot was with you.

I had no clue it was going to be the last time he would say 'Pack up!'. Shah Rukh and I took a lot of pictures with him and he seemed quite relaxed.

Are you still the dark horse in Bollywood?

I wasn't an overnight success like Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh. I was recognised but my face was not splashed around on magazine covers. People came to me with a lot of offers but I didn't take them up because they were not the kind of films I could connect with. So, I kept quiet. There were reports about how out of sight is out of mind but the pressure didn't get to me.

What kept you grounded?

I remembered what Aditya Chopra had told me when he signed me for the first film, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi - "Anushka, I signed you because I see talent in you". That is the only reason I got my first film and that can be the only reason I should go ahead. I will do a film in which I do not have to stand around like an ornament. Band Baaja Baaraat was my first success and today I am sitting with you talking about a Yash Chopra film. I also have a film by Vishal Bhardwaj, Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola. When Vishal narrated the script to me, it was so funny that I fell off the chair. There are some people and films that you immediately connect with and Vishal's was one of them.

But every heroine wants to be part of the Rs 100-crore club?

I don't want to be part of that club but I do want to be part of a film that can earn Rs 100 crore. The day I start thinking of the club I am limiting myself. The fact remains that heroines are interchangeable even today. I have a lot of respect for a director like Anurag Kashyap who signed me when there was no hero in the film (Bombay Velvet). I would like Raju Hirani film to do a Rs 500-crore film. It is great to have your film earning that kind of money but I am not going to sign a film thinking about the money it is going to make.

Have films changed since you joined the industry?

I don't like it when films are called womencentric. I will not do a heroine ka film but I will do a film that I think is going to do well. There is space for more than one kind of film these days. Just look at Rowdy Rathore, Band Baaja Baaraat or a Vicky Donor.

More than 60 per cent of what an actor earns today comes from endorsements and you have become quite a sought-after face.

It is true that the major chunk of remuneration comes from endorsements but I choose brands which have good creatives. As for my price I know my value and will not allow anyone to undervalue me. I can do a film for one rupee also.