The film was a major commercial success, emerging as the second-highest grossing Hindi film of that year, and earned Sharma Filmfare Award nominations for Best Actress and Best Female Debut. Khalid Mohamed of Hindustan Times found her to be "assured and upright" in the film, but Nikhat Kazmi thought that she "lacks all chutzpah and can barely hold your attention". She was signed for a three-film deal with the company and landed the leading role of Tani Sahni, a young bride to a middle-aged man, portrayed by Khan. She took a day to prepare for her screen test at the Yash Raj Films studio and refused to do an impromptu one. Sharma made her acting debut in Aditya Chopra's romantic drama Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008), opposite Shah Rukh Khan. Sharma with co-star Ranveer Singh at the DVD launch of Band Baaja Baaraat in 2010 Acting career Film debut and breakthrough (2008–2013) Whilst modelling, Sharma also joined an acting school and began auditioning for film roles. I would walk down the ramp and smile and they used to say, 'give us a blank look.' It was really difficult, not to smile". Sharma later said, "I think I was born to emote and act. Since then she has done campaigns for the brands Silk & Shine, Whisper, Nathella Jewelry and Fiat Palio. In 2007, Sharma made her runway debut at the Lakme Fashion Week for designer Wendell Rodricks's Les Vamps Show and was picked to be his finale model at the Spring Summer 2007 Collection. She enrolled herself at the Elite Model Management, and was groomed by the style consultant Prasad Bidapa.
After graduation, Sharma moved to Mumbai to further her modelling career. She originally intended to pursue a career in modelling or journalism, and had no aspirations to be an actress.
Then she did her graduation in arts from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore. She completed her schooling at Army School, Bangalore. Sakshi Dhoni, the wife of M.S Dhoni, was her classmate in that school. In an interview with The Times of India in 2012, she said, "I take pride in saying that I am an army officer's daughter even more than being an actor." Sharma has stated that being a military brat played an important role in shaping her as a person and contributing to her life. Her elder brother is film producer Karnesh Sharma, who earlier served in the Merchant Navy. Her father is a native of Uttar Pradesh, while her mother is a Garhwali. Sharma lived in Sheela Bhawan of Naishvilla road in her childhood. Anushka Sharma's grandmother Urmila still lives in their house. Her ancestral home is in Dehradun town of Uttarakhand on Naishvilla road, her father lived here before joining Indian army. Her father, Colonel Ajay Kumar Sharma, is an army officer, and her mother, Ashima Sharma, is a homemaker.