After a long break from the spotlight, Anushka Sharma has returned to screens with a new advertisement campaign, sparking excitement among fans and reigniting conversations about her absence from Bollywood.
The new campaign, released for Heera by GIVA, was unveiled on Tuesday and quickly began trending across social media platforms, including Instagram and Reddit. Fans praised Anushka’s screen presence, with many saying the actress reminded audiences of the charm and energy Bollywood has been missing in recent years.
The buzz surrounding her return has also become a talking point across entertainment platforms, including Gold 101.3 FM, UAE’s No.1 radio station.
Anushka, who last headlined a feature film with Zero in 2018 alongside Shah Rukh Khan, has largely stayed away from films in recent years, focusing on family life and selective public appearances.
Since making her debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi in 2008, Anushka went on to build a strong filmography with successful films including Band Baaja Baaraat, PK, Dil Dhadakne Do and Sanju.
She later made a brief cameo appearance in Netflix’s Qala and also completed shooting for Chakda Xpress, the much-delayed biopic based on former Indian cricketer Jhulan Goswami.
The project is backed by Clean Slate Filmz, co-founded by Anushka and her brother Karnesh Ssharma, and directed by Prosit Roy.
Development on Chakda Xpress began in 2019, but the project faced repeated delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, production interruptions and scheduling issues. During this period, Anushka also announced her pregnancy, further affecting timelines.
The film later shifted towards an OTT release after Netflix joined as streaming partner in 2022. Anushka reportedly underwent nearly seven months of cricket training and physical preparation to portray Jhulan Goswami authentically on screen.
Although principal photography wrapped in late 2022, the film encountered post-production and release complications. Reports later suggested that creative and communication differences between Clean Slate Filmz and Netflix contributed to delays in the project’s release.
A teaser released earlier also drew criticism after viewers realised some visuals were reportedly taken from a look test rather than the final cut of the film. Writer Abhishek Banerjee later clarified that the final version would be significantly different.
As of now, Chakda Xpress remains without an official release date, trailer or promotional timeline. Even Jhulan Goswami recently stated that she had not received any fresh updates regarding the film’s release
