There's something refreshingly different about Anushka Sharma. Maybe it's the environment she has been brought up in, or maybe it's her work-life balance that stops her from becoming an industry clone. She's a conversationalist, an interviewer's delight. Her answers are straight from the heart. Like any other actor, she's insecure, but that doesn't drive her decisions. As she wisely points out, “This industry breathes on insecurity; everyone benefits from the insecurities of an actor.“ Ahead of her next release, the Imtiaz Ali-directorial Jab Harry Met Sejal, she talks to BT about industry dynamics, choices and nepotism in an up close and personal interview. Excerpts:

This is the third time you've been paired opposite Shah Rukh Khan in less than a decade. A few weeks later, you will start your fourth film with him, which makes it the maximum you've worked with any actor so far. Does it even feel real?
It's wonderful working with Shah Rukh. He's gracious. He has been warm and welcoming right from my first film and that has left a lasting impression. You understand the value of goodness that people show after you've spent a few years in the industry. On the set, he created an environment that helped me perform to the best of my abilities. I've had the opportunity to work with a couple of newcomers. Everytime I've worked with newcomers, I've had this feeling that I have to be nice to them because I remembered how good SRK was to me when I started out. The experience of working with Shah Rukh gets better each time. Also, having known him as a person, I feel easier interacting with him now.

Over the years, do you feel that your chemistry with him has also improved?
Chemistry depends on the script. You may have a great rapport with an actor off screen, but it might not translate on screen because it's absent in the script. Shah Rukh and I have played characters like Harry and Sejal, who indulge in banter and share a journey together, which has made room for our chemistry to build up. Essentially, while working with an actor, I only see him as the character he's playing. This is probably what also helped me in my very first film to hold my own without letting reverence for my costar's stardom get in the way.

In one of your previous interviews, you mentioned that male co-stars often get better rooms during outdoor shoots. You shot a long schedule with SRK for Jab Harry Met Sejal. Though he's known for his chivalry, did he give you a chance to complain?
Even when I spoke about the issue in that interview, it was not about any one person's experiences; I had made a generic comment. Being a producer myself, I know how these things work. I understand ki aisa hota hai yahan pe. As for Shah Rukh, he has been accepting of how I am. He's sensitive towards women, and maybe that's because he was brought up by so many women. I don't want to get into the nitty-gritties of how I felt on A or B set because it's petty. It dilutes the purpose of what I was trying to say back then.

In a relatively shorter career span, you've ticked more directors' names off your bucket-list than most of your contemporaries. What was your plan of action?
I knew my plan and I didn't alter it according to circumstances. I never let industry insiders trick me into believing in an alternate plan. No one knows how many times I've used my filter, stepped back and let go of so many temptations to just stick to my plan. After my big break, I wasn't flooded with offers. It was my second film with Ranveer Singh that got me recognition. I realised that I will only be remembered for how good I was in a film. As a movie star, you have to be relevant and for that, you have to continuously reinvent. You can't just be content after establishing a certain image. I was clear I'd chase good scripts and directors. I never hankered to work with any megastar because I didn't want to piggyback on anyone. And just by doing what I wanted to do, I ended up doing four films with SRK. I've cautiously charted my path to success with half the number of films that others, who I am compared with, have done.

You are as much an outsider in this industry as Kangana Ranaut is. With nepotism snowballing into a huge debate, one can't ignore both your success stories in Bollywood. Your comment...
It's unfair to negate some one else's experiences. Everyone has their own thought process. Does nepotism exist? I guess it does. Is everyone nepotistic? I guess not, because if that were the case, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you. Shah Rukh, Imtiaz and I wouldn't be where we are had this industry not given us our share of opportunities. Having said that, I am not in any way negating anyone else's claim because I know that it does exist. While it's a topic worth a discussion, I feel that it takes attention away from topics like merit and talent. While nepotism exists, people can survive on true merit.

With back-to-back projects, do you ever make time for social life?
I do nothing other than my job. Blame it on my social awkwardness also, but I don't really hang out with friends. I don't know if it's sad or funny, but I only have time for work, and whatever I'm left with is reserved for my loved ones. My work consumes me completely and at this point in my life, it shouldn't be any other way. Ideally, I would like to have some time to prep for films, but I'm not complaining about it.

Looking at your career choices, you don't seem insecure about your space in this industry. Does it pressurise you that younger actresses treat you as a benchmark?
There is absolutely no pressure, but everyone feels insecure. This industry breathes on insecurity; everyone benefits from the insecurities of an actor. I understood a lot of things about this workspace at a very young age and that has helped me a lot. A lot of people will try and make you insecure and enjoy your state of self-doubt. Here, actors are constantly pitted against each other; someone writes about it, and the studios benefit. If you fall for it, you'll ruin it for yourself. I am insecure too, but I don't let my fears determine my course of action. I have never let that happen and I'll ensure that it doesn't happen in the future too. Fear will never get to decide my course of action and hence, my fate.