Can we talk about Anushka Sharma’s brand of feminism?

The latest Vogue (India) issue has Anushka Sharma as its cover girl. She sits nonchalantly, wearing a white t-shirt that says ‘We should all be Feminists’. As is often the case in fashion magazine covers, the cover girl has an expression that doesn’t give three hoots. And it would be like any other fashion magazine cover, except that in this case it does in fact ring true.

Sharma has been very vocal about being a feminist, the challenges of being a female movie star in a male dominated business and has struck out on her own, with her production house. From a novice less than a decade ago, this lady has come a long way. While there are plenty of other female actors who have also been positive feminists in their actions – Priyanka Chopra, being a case in point, Anushka Sharma is fast turning in to her own unique brand of feminism, and in the best possible way. Here are five ways she is setting a great example:

#1. Outspoken about biases: Sharma’s interviews are always candid. She has gone on record to speak about preferential treatment to male co-stars even if they don’t have as much star power. She has also talked about pay inequality, especially when she is the one pulling in more audiences than her co-star, among others. 

#2. Professionally independent: Her debut was only towards the end of 2008, but by early 2016, Sharma had produced her first ever film NH10. And she is now on to her second film Phillauri. Admittedly, she seems to have enough support from business partnerships to launch her venture, but the fact remains that it would not have happened without her. And this, when she comes from a non-filmi background, which would imaginably make it doubly hard.

#3. Fine film choices: Even though Sharma gets tagged as the ‘bubbly girl’, her film choices reveal very strong characters. She hasn’t done too many films in all the years that she has been around, but most of the films she has done reveal a strong inclination for roles that are sharp, active and go-getting. So whether it is her Shruti Kakkar from Band Baaja Baarat, who wants to start up her own wedding planning business, an adventure loving Akira, who is a Discovery Channel intern or the avenging Meera in NH10, Sharma's characters are almost never never afraid to claim their space.

#4. No-apologies personality: Sharma has, overtime, developed a very well defined personality. She is who she is, with no apologies to anyone. But she is not offensive, on the contrary, she is forthcoming and offers explanations for her view points. At the same time, she is not ridden with a desire to please everyone or be the boxed-in ‘good girl’ personality.

#5. Super choice of partner: Last but not the least, is Sharma’s choice of partner, who only supports her choices and her way of being, quite publically at that. In a recent tweet Virat Kohli, talked about how she is “fighting against the odds regularly and standing up for righteousness and changing the norms” this Women’s day. It is not every guy that supports feminism, and too many strong, positive, feminist women settle for less, but not this girl.