Anushka Shetty aka Devasena – The Jakkamma of Cinema

Happy Birthday Anushka! At 36, she is an exemplary actress, with her best yet to come.

As Anushka Shetty turns 36, the Devasena in her is only set to rise higher.

(Photo Courtesy: Arka Media Works; altered by Vikram Venkateswaran / The Quint)

There is something called screen presence. Occasionally, it takes a while even for the actor who has it to realise it's there. Anushka Shetty debuted in 2005. It took four years of random item numbers and 'special appearances' until Arundhati (2009) came about, in which she plays a warrior princess who's no less than a Goddess to her people. That was her escalator, which is still going up steadily, as she turns 36 years and 45 films old.

The Goddess and the Vamp

Anushka Shetty is brilliant at carrying off any character with ease, all of which she has played across Telugu and Tamil films. What is occasionally frustrating is to see her reduced to a smile, a side-track and two songs, while the rest of the screen-time is hogged by a testosterone-addled male protagonist. Most of the 45 movies on her filmography fit this description.

But it's Anushka’s characters of Devasena (Baahubali), Arundhati (in and as), Rudhramadevi (in and as) – that of larger than life independent women – that the heart holds on to longest.

And here it’s impossible not to bring up Ramya Krishnan. In '95, she played a village Goddess, in what is arguably the finest religio-mythological film in Indian cinema yet. Just as NTR is still worshipped as Lord Krishna by the Telugus, Ramya Krishnan will be the 'Ammoru' (Divine Mother) for many a villager.

Barely a few years later, she played Rajinikanth's arch nemesis, as Neelambari in Padayappa (1999). Neelambari favoured micro-minis, and husbands on a leash.

Anushka and Prabhas

On-screen romance isn't one of Baahubali star Prabhas' strong points. Anushka, in this respect, is one up over her on-screen king, and long time off-screen friend. Prabhas mentions in an interview that they grew close after he met her on the sets of Vikramarkudu (remade into Rowdy Rathore) in 2006 and have been great friends ever since. He calls her by her nickname – sweetie (he calls his other friends 'darling').

The on-set pranks between the two are never ending. For almost the entire first instalment of Baahubali, Anushka, who played Prabhas' mother would yell out 'where is my son!' everytime she finished a shot or she needed something done.

Rumours are rife, as both Prabhas (38) and Anushka (36) are single, but watching them give an interview together is sheer fun, thanks to the camaraderie. Chemistry be damned!

Bhaagamathie and On

Anushka Shetty is a Kannadiga, yet, her lip sync in Telugu and Tamil is impeccable. Her comic timing, in movies like Mirchi (with Prabhas) and Khaleja (with Mahesh Babu) is a rare commodity in the industry. As is her willingness to experiment with roles, ranging from item numbers, to a Goddess (Arundhati), to a prostitute (Vedam) to a plus size woman (Size Zero), for which she actually put on 30 kilos.

With Bhaagamathie, she enters the league of multilingual releases that only major stars are accorded. And this is not just because she has managed to 'land' a few meaty roles, or because she's been able to stay on the tip of fame this long. It is simply because she is an exemplary actress, with her best yet to come.