The Anushka Shetty style: Defying odds while being the mistress of own decisions

In the 1983 Malayalam film Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback, the late legendary director KG George fearlessly exposed the film industry’s deplorable treatment of women, a situation that largely remains unchanged even today.

As a result, women are unfortunately still expected to comply without objection if they wish to remain in the business. Despite recent efforts to call out the industry and its male members for perpetuating this harmful behaviour, noticeable changes are still infrequent.

Amidst this environment, one female star has defied the odds by taking charge of her own decisions and working at her own pace — Anushka Shetty.

Although she attained enviable fame following the monumental success of the Baahubali franchise, Anushka Shetty resisted conforming to the ever-prevalent trends. (Image: Anushka Shetty/Facebook)

In a goosebumps-inducing moment in SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, as Bhallaladeva (Rana Daggubati) gazes through a telescope-like device, he witnesses the majestic Devasena walking towards his palace with regal grace, holding the severed head of his son, trailed by numerous Mahishmathi soldiers.

This shot aptly encapsulates the position of Anushka Shetty, who turns 42 on Tuesday (November 7), in the Telugu film industry. At the same time, she also stands out as arguably one of the only persons associated with the film who has moved forward, focusing on future endeavours.

Anushka Shetty is currently opting for a more leisurely pace, emphasising that she isn’t partaking in any race and certainly not competing with anyone. (Image: Anushka Shetty/Facebook)

Although she attained enviable fame following the monumental success of the Baahubali franchise, Anushka resisted conforming to the ever-prevalent trend where women are expected to frequently present themselves before viewers to stay ingrained in their minds. Instead, she opted for a more leisurely pace, emphasising that she isn’t partaking in any silly races and certainly not competing with anyone.

In a recent interview with The Indian Express, Anushka said: “Once I finished Baahubali, I had my commitment with Bhaagamathie, and then I wanted to take some time off. It was by choice. It was something I needed the most at that time. Back then, I felt like doing that so I would be more present for my future projects. I know it’s totally unheard of. It’s not what is expected of people. I don’t have a concrete answer for it, but I really wanted some time off.”

While, across all sectors, women are compelled to continually demonstrate their value and prove their efficiency equal to that of men, to make such a decision in show business and unapologetically stand by it demands a special courage that not many are blessed with or manage to cultivate.

What makes this step even more intriguing is that this is the same Anushka who, from 2008 to 2010, at the peak of her career, played key roles in 15 films and made guest appearances in three. Transitioning from such a demanding schedule to taking a more relaxed approach and prioritising herself is something that many might consider foolish. However, the fact that she attempted it and succeeded is commendable. In the six years since Baahubali 2, she has only appeared in three films — Bhaagamathie (2018), Nishabdham/Silence (2020), and Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty (2023). However, each of these films bore the unique signature of Anushka, rendering them special and distinctively hers.

Anushka Shetty with Ramya Krishnan and Nayanthara. (Image: Anushka Shetty/Facebook)

In all honesty, before this phase, even as she graced almost all monumental projects, appearing alongside A-listers, Anushka was never solely focused on glamour or box-office success. She consistently pursued what excited her and what she believed would be best for her.

While she was scaling heights by starring in consecutive (mindless) big-budget entertainers, Kodi Ramakrishna approached her with the fantasy-horror film Arundhati (2009). Despite any actor potentially considering skipping the film due to its basis in the reincarnation theme, much like many other films, and its singular focus on the characters Arundhati and Jejamma, which required the same female actor, leaving no room for male superstars, leading to potential failure, Anushka fearlessly accepted the role. The film received acclaim from both audiences and critics and went on to become one of the highest-grossing Telugu films of all time.

Anushka Shetty in G Ashok’s Bhaagamathie. (Image: Anushka Shetty/Facebook)

That’s how an ethnic Tuluva, born into a Tulu-speaking Bunt family settled in Mangaluru, Karnataka, began scripting history in South India at a time when even her biggest competitor —Nayanthara — hadn’t headlined a project on her own.

Anushka did not stop there. In 2010, she portrayed a sex worker in Krish Jagarlamudi’s hyperlink film Vedam, which garnered significant praise. Following that, even in mass movies, she was never just a showpiece, and her characters were substantial compared to the typical roles women received. Even as she worked on mammoth films like Thaandavam (2012), Singam II (2013) and Rudhramadevi (2015), Anushka actively sought out projects like the experimental Irandaam Ulagam (2013), Size Zero/Inji Iduppazhagi (2015), Om Namo Venkatesaya (2017) and Bhaagamathie (2018), which challenged her artistic boundaries.

Now, as she prepares for her Malayalam debut with Rojin Thomas’ highly anticipated period fantasy thriller, Kathanar – The Wild Sorcerer, expectations are soaring. And this anticipation is largely due to Anushka taking on the leading role in a movie that follows the life of Kadamattathu Kathanar, a renowned 9th-century Christian priest known for his mystical abilities.

By being the mistress of her decisions and career choices, and refusing to conform to the norms and expectations of an upper-caste male-dominated film industry, Anushka is establishing fresh benchmarks for future generations of women. With any luck, a time will come when women won’t have to repeatedly demonstrate their value to thrive.