Happy Birthday Anushka Shetty: From Arundhati to Devasena, the Baahubali actor has gone from strength to strength

Anushka Shetty, a name that needs no introduction, celebrates her birthday today. The actor turns 36 and it’s a moment to celebrate her strong characters on the screen, including the role that is going to live on forever, Devasena from Baahubali. However, before she became a part of SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus and depicted one of the strongest roles ever created in the Indian film industry, she made a mark in Tollywood with Arundhati. Her dual portrayal of Jejamma and Arundhati had won millions of hearts. The story of Jejamma who fights a black magician became a memorable role only and only because of the power Anushka's powerful portrayal of the character.

Anushka had her own share of troubles. She was getting similar kind of roles after Arundhati. But did that stop her from experimenting? Hell no! The actor starred in Billa the same year, in which she shared the screen space with Baahubali fame Prabhas. This was the movie from when the two started to be tagged as a couple. This was also the first time when she sported a bikini, proving that she is definitely an actor who accepts change gracefully and moves on.

In her 2010 release Vedam, Anushka played a prostitute but even then, her character had depth. She played Saroja whose ambition was to run away from a brothel and lead a happy and normal life. She struggles, fights, and on the way, she loses out on the only friend she has and decides to stand up for friend and not think of herself. A commercial actor taking up such a role in a multi-starrer film was not something one had seen before.

Till 2015, Anushka did many commercial films which were hero oriented but little did she know that fate had other plans for her. The actor had no idea that she would become a national phenomenon with 2015 release Baahubali: The Beginning. It was an experience to see her play a character double her age and turn into a mother to Prabhas’ character Mahendra Baahubali.

In the same year, she appeared as Rudramadevi. The film, which also starred Baahubali fame Rana Daggubati, did not get the commercial success as one might have hoped for but undoubtedly Anushka gave her best.

Taking a break from content driven and historical films, Anushka starred in Size Zero, which came to her at a time when she was being mocked for her weight. She carried her weight and all those comments with pride but the film did not do well at the box office.

But soon Anushka came back on screen with a bang when Baahubali’s Devasena turned younger and romanced Amarendra Baahubali, giving perfect couple goals. Also, one could not help but admire her fierce avatar.

Over the span of 12 years in the film industry, Anushka Shetty has never failed to put up her best foot forward for her fans. Now, we are desperately waiting to know about her next project, Bhagmati. We wish the actor a very happy birthday.