Ankit Sharma (footballer)
Ankit Sharma (born on 30 July 1991, in New Delhi) is an Indian professional football player who play as Midfielder and Striker. He has played for Delhi Football Team, Youth Indian National teams, HAL Bangalore and in the Divisiones Regionales de Fútbol in the Community of Madrid, Spain. He is the first Indian to sign a professional contract with a Spanish Club and the fifth Indian to play overseas in the history of Indian Football.
Club career.
HAL.
Ankit's professional career began at the young age of 19 with HAL in the I-league, 2010-11 season.
Sharma got injured in the Dr. B.C Roy Trophy Semi-Final match and had a six-month outing, but he recovered well and came back after recovering from a knee injury.
He appeared in all the matches post-signing for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited S.C. in 2010–11 season
He had one of the rarest and saddest experiences while playing his trade at his first club. HAL goalkeeper Arun Kumar collided with Ankit in a training session just before the match against Pune FC, fracturing his right shin bone and injuring Ankit's right knee, which kept him out of training for a week's rest.
San Cristobal.
Ankit Sharma became the first Indian to sign a professional contract with a Spanish Club in 2011-12 and the fifth Indian to play overseas in the history of Indian Football. He signed for Spanish club in the Divisiones Regionales de Fútbol in the Community of Madrid after a successful season with HAL in I-league 2010-11 season.
Bhawanipore.
For 2012-13, he signed a contract with IInd Division I-League and Calcutta Football League outfit Bhawanipore FC.
Honours.
India U-19
HAL
References.
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New Delhi
Capital city of India
New Delhi (; , ) is the capital of India and a part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the Government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Sansad Bhavan, and the Supreme Court. New Delhi is a municipality within the NCT, administered by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), which covers mostly Lutyens' Delhi and a few adjacent areas. The municipal area is part of a larger administrative district, the New Delhi district.
Although colloquially "Delhi" and "New Delhi" are used interchangeably to refer to the National Capital Territory of Delhi, both are distinct entities, with the municipality and the New Delhi district forming a relatively small part within the megacity of Delhi. The National Capital Region is an even larger entity, comprising the entire NCT along with adjoining districts in the two neighbouring states forming a continuously built-up area with it, including Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Meerut, YEIDA City, Gurgaon, and Faridabad.
The foundation stone of New Delhi, south of central Delhi, was laid by George V during the Delhi Durbar of 1911. It was designed by British architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. The new capital was inaugurated on 13 February 1931, by Viceroy and Governor-General Irwin.
History.
Establishment.
Until December 1911, Calcutta was the capital of India during the British Rule. However, it had become the centre of the nationalist movements since the late nineteenth century, which led to the Partition of Bengal by Viceroy Curzon. This created massive political and religious upsurge including political assassinations of British officials in Calcutta. The anti-colonial sentiments among the public led to a complete boycott of British goods, which forced the colonial government to reunite Bengal and immediately shift the capital to New Delhi.
Old Delhi had served as the political and financial centre of several empires of medieval India and the Delhi Sultanate, most notably of the Mughal Empire from 1649 to 1857. During the early 1900s, a proposal was made to the British administration to shift the capital of the British Indian Empire, as India was officially named, from Calcutta on the east coast, to Delhi. The Government of British India felt that it would be logistically easier to administer India from Delhi, which is in the centre of northern India. The land for building the new city of Delhi was acquired under the Land Acquisition Act 1894.
During the Delhi Durbar on 12 December 1911, George V while laying the foundation stone for the viceroy's residence in the Coronation Park, Kingsway Camp, declared that the capital of the Raj would be shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. Three days later, George V and his consort, Mary, laid the foundation stone of New Delhi at Kingsway Camp. Large parts of New Delhi were planned by Edwin Lutyens, who first visited Delhi in 1912, and Herbert Baker, both leading 20th-century British architects. The contract was given to Sobha Singh. The original plan called for its construction in Tughlaqabad, inside the Tughlaqabad Fort, but this was given up because of the Delhi-Calcutta trunk line that passed through the fort. Construction really began after World War I and was completed by 1931. The gardening and planning of plantations was led by A.E.P. Griessen, and later William Mustoe. The city that was later dubbed "Lutyens' Delhi" was inaugurated in ceremonies beginning on 10 February 1931 by Viceroy Irwin. Lutyens designed the central administrative area of the city as a testament to Britain's imperial aspirations.
Soon Lutyens started considering other places. Indeed, the Delhi Town Planning Committee, set up to plan the new imperial capital, with George Swinton as chairman, and John A. Brodie and Lutyens as members, submitted reports for both north and south sites. However, it was rejected by the Viceroy when the cost of acquiring the necessary properties was found to be too high. The central axis of New Delhi, which today faces east at India Gate, was previously meant to be a north–south axis linking the Viceroy's House at one end with Paharganj at the other. Eventually, owing to space constraints and the presence of a large number of heritage sites on the north side, the committee settled on the south site. A site atop the Raisina Hill, formerly Raisina Village, a Meo village, was chosen for the Rashtrapati Bhawan, then known as the Viceroy's House. The reason for this choice was that the hill lay directly opposite the Dinapanah citadel, which was also considered the site of Indraprastha, the ancient region of Delhi. Subsequently, the foundation stone was shifted from the site of Delhi Durbar of 1911–1912, where the Coronation Pillar stood, and embedded in the walls of the forecourt of the Secretariat. The Rajpath, also known as King's Way, stretched from the India Gate to the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The Secretariat building, the two blocks of which flank the Rashtrapati Bhawan and houses ministries of the government of India, and the Parliament House, both designed by Baker, are located at the Sansad Marg and run parallel to the Rajpath.
In the south, land up to Safdarjung's Tomb was acquired to create what is today known as Lutyens' Bungalow Zone. Before construction could begin on the rocky ridge of Raisina Hill, a circular railway line around the Council House (now Parliament House), called the "Imperial Delhi Railway", was built to transport construction material and workers for the next twenty years. The last stumbling block was the Agra-Delhi railway line that cut right through the site earmarked for the hexagonal All-India War Memorial (India Gate) and Kingsway (Rajpath), which was a problem because the Old Delhi Railway Station served the entire city at that time. The line was shifted to run along the Yamuna River, and it began operating in 1924. The New Delhi Railway Station opened in 1926, with a single platform at Ajmeri Gate near Paharganj, and was completed in time for the city's inauguration in 1931. As construction of the Viceroy's House (the present Rashtrapati Bhavan), Central Secretariat, Parliament House, and All-India War Memorial (India Gate) was winding down, the building of a shopping district and a new plaza, Connaught Place, began in 1929, and was completed by 1933. Named after Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught (1850–1942), it was designed by Robert Tor Russell, chief architect to the Public Works Department (PWD).
After the capital of India moved to Delhi, a temporary secretariat building was constructed in a few months in 1912 in North Delhi. Most of the government offices of the new capital moved here from the 'Old secretariat' in Old Delhi (the building now houses the Delhi Legislative Assembly), a decade before the new capital was inaugurated in 1931. Many employees were brought into the new capital from distant parts of India, including the Bengal Presidency and Madras Presidency. Subsequently, housing for them has developed around Gole Market area in the 1920s. Built in the 1940s, to house government employees, with bungalows for senior officials in the nearby Lodi Estate area, Lodi Colony near historic Lodi Gardens, was the last residential areas built by the British Raj.
Post-independence.
After India gained independence in 1947, limited autonomy was conferred to New Delhi and was administered by a Chief Commissioner appointed by the Government of India. In 1966, Delhi was converted into a union territory and eventually the Chief Commissioner was replaced by a Lieutenant Governor. The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991 declared the Union Territory of Delhi to be formally known as the National Capital Territory of Delhi. A system was introduced under which the elected government was given wide powers, excluding law and order which remained with the Central Government. The actual enforcement of the legislation came in 1993.
The first major extension of New Delhi outside of Lutyens' Delhi came in the 1950s when the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) developed a large area of land southwest of Lutyens' Delhi to create the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri, where land was allotted for embassies, chanceries, high commissions and residences of ambassadors, around a wide central vista, "Shanti Path".
Geography.
With a total area of , the municipality of New Delhi forms a small part of the Delhi metropolitan area. Since the city is located on the Indo-Gangetic Plain, there is little difference in elevation across the city. New Delhi and surrounding areas were once a part of the Aravali Range; all that is left of those mountains is the Delhi Ridge, which is also called the Lungs of Delhi. While New Delhi lies on the floodplains of the Yamuna River, it is essentially a landlocked city. East of the river is the urban area of Shahdara.
Seismology.
New Delhi falls under the seismic zone-IV, making it vulnerable to earthquakes. It lies on several fault lines and thus experiences frequent earthquakes, most of them of mild intensity. There was a spike in the number of earthquakes between 2011 and 2015, most notable being a 5.4 magnitude earthquake in 2015 with its epicentre in Nepal, a 4.7-magnitude earthquake on 25 November 2007, a 4.2-magnitude earthquake on 7 September 2011, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake on 5 March 2012, and a swarm of twelve earthquakes, including four of magnitudes 2.5, 2.8, 3.1, and 3.3, on 12 November 2013.
Climate.
The climate of New Delhi is a dry-winter humid subtropical climate (Köppen "Cwa") bordering on a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen "BSh") with high variation between summer and winter in terms of both temperature and rainfall. The temperature varies from in summers to around in winters. The area's version of a humid subtropical climate is noticeably different from many other cities with this climate classification in that it features long and extremely hot summers with dust storms, relatively dry and mild winters with wildfire haze, and a monsoonal period. Summers are long, extending from early April to October, with the monsoon season occurring in the middle of the summer. Winter starts in November and peaks in January. Winters are very mild. The annual mean temperature is around ; monthly daily mean temperatures range from approximately . New Delhi's highest temperature ever recorded is on 28 May 2024 at Met Delhi Mungeshpur while the lowest temperature ever recorded is on 11 January 1967 at Indira Gandhi International Airport (formerly known as Palam Airport). The average annual rainfall is and monsoon rainfall from June to September is about , most of which is during the monsoons in July and August.
Air quality.
In Mercer's 2015 annual quality-of-living survey, New Delhi ranks at number 154 out of 230 cities due to bad air quality and pollution. The World Health Organization ranked New Delhi as the world's worst polluted city in 2014 among about 1,600 cities the organisation tracked around the world. In 2016, United States Environmental Protection Agency listed New Delhi as the most polluted city on Earth and IQAir listed New Delhi as the world's most polluted capital city for the second straight year in year 2019.
In an attempt to lessen air pollution in New Delhi, which gets worse during the winter, a temporary alternate-day travel scheme for cars using the odd- and even-numbered licence plates system was announced by Delhi government in December 2015. In addition, trucks were to be allowed to enter India's capital only after 11 pm, two hours later than the existing restriction. The driving restriction scheme was planned to be implemented as a trial from 1 January 2016 for an initial period of 15 days. The restriction was in force between 8 am and 8 pm, and traffic was not restricted on Sundays. Public transportation service was increased during the restriction period.
On 16 December 2015, the Supreme Court of India mandated several restrictions on Delhi's transportation system to curb pollution. Among the measures, the court ordered to stop registrations of diesel cars and sport utility vehicles with an engine capacity of 2,000 cc and over until 31 March 2016. The court also ordered all taxis in the Delhi region to switch to compressed natural gas by 1 March 2016. Transportation vehicles that are more than 10 years old were banned from entering the capital.
Analysing real-time vehicle speed data from Uber Delhi revealed that during the odd-even program, average speeds went up by a statistically significant 5.4 per cent (2.8 standard deviations from normal). This means vehicles have less idling time in traffic and vehicle engines would run closer to minimum fuel consumption. In bordering areas, PM 2.5 levels were recorded more than 400 (ug/m3) while in inner areas in Delhi, they were recorded between 150 and 210 on an average. However, the sub-city of Dwarka, located in the southwest district, has a substantially low level of air pollution. At the NSIT University campus, located in sector 3 Dwarka, pollution levels were as low as 93 PPM.
On 7 November 2017, the Indian Medical Association declared a public health emergency due to high pollution levels. The highest being in the Punjabi Bagh district with an air quality index of 999 and in the RK Puram district with an index of 852. The lowest index recorded was in the Anand Vihar district with an index of 319. Levels of PM2.5 were recorded at 710 μg/m3, more than 11 times the World Health Organization's safe limit.
In a 2018 study, New Delhi was found to be the most polluted capital out of 61 capital cities around the world. In December 2019, IIT Bombay, in partnership with the McKelvey School of Engineering of Washington University in St. Louis, launched the Aerosol and Air Quality Research Facility to study air pollution in New Delhi, among other Indian cities. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India, the water quality of the Yamuna and Ganges river basins have improved as industries are closed due to the lockdown. The air quality has also significantly improved during the lockdown. On 5 November 2020, New Delhi recorded its most toxic day in a year, as the concentration of poisonous PM2.5 particles was recorded at 14 times the WHO's safe limit.
Demographics.
As of 2011, the New Delhi Municipal Council area has a population of 249,998. Hindi is the most widely spoken language in New Delhi and the lingua franca of the city. English is primarily used as the formal language by business and government institutes. New Delhi has a literacy rate of 89.38% according to 2011 census, which is the highest in Delhi.
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Religion.
According to 2011 census, Hinduism is the religion of 89.8% of New Delhi's population. There are also communities of Muslims (4.5%), Christians (2.9%), Sikhs (2.0%), Jains (0.4%). Other religious groups include Parsis, Buddhists, and Jews.
Government.
The national capital of India, New Delhi is jointly administered by both the Central Government of India and the local Government of Delhi, it is also the capital of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.
New Delhi is administered through a municipal government, known as the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). The other urban areas of the metropolis of Delhi are administered by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Delhi Cantonment Board. As of 2015[ [update]], the government structure of the New Delhi Municipal Council includes a chairperson, three members of New Delhi's Legislative Assembly, two members nominated by the Chief Minister of the NCT of Delhi and five members nominated by the central government.
The districts of the NCT were redrawn in 2012 and include a district called New Delhi, albeit with different borders than the municipality. The New Delhi district includes not only the area of the municipality of the same name but also encompasses the Delhi Cantonment and parts of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi area.
Economy.
New Delhi is the largest commercial city in northern India. It has an estimated net State Domestic Product (FY 2010) of () in nominal terms and ~ () in PPP terms. As of 2013[ [update]], the per capita income of Delhi was Rs. 230000, second highest in India after Goa. GSDP in Delhi at the prices for 2012–13 is estimated at Rs 3.88 trillion (short scale) against Rs 3.11 trillion (short scale) in 2011–12.
Connaught Place, one of North India's largest commercial and financial centres, is located in the northern part of New Delhi. Adjoining areas such as Barakhamba Road, ITO are also major commercial centres. The government and quasi-government sector was the primary employer in New Delhi. The city's service sector has expanded due in part to the large skilled English-speaking workforce that has attracted many multinational companies. Key service industries include information technology, telecommunications, hotels, banking, media, and tourism.
The 2011 World Wealth Report ranks economic activity in New Delhi at 39, but overall the capital is ranked at 37, above cities like Jakarta and Johannesburg. New Delhi, with Beijing, shares the top position as the most targeted emerging markets retail destination among Asia-Pacific markets.
The government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi does not release any economic figures specifically for New Delhi but publishes an official economic report on the whole of Delhi annually. According to the "Economic Survey of Delhi", the metropolis has a net State Domestic Product (SDP) of Rs. 830.85 billion (for the year 2004–05) and a per capita income of Rs. 53,976 ($1,200). In the year 2008–09 New Delhi had a per capita Income of Rs. ($2,595). It grew by 16.2% to reach Rs. ($3,018) in 2009–10 fiscal. New Delhi's per capita GDP (at PPP) was at $6,860 during 2009–10 fiscal, making it one of the richest cities in India. The tertiary sector contributes 78.4% of Delhi's gross SDP followed by secondary and primary sectors with 20.2% and 1.4% contribution respectively.
The gross state domestic product (GSDP) of Delhi at prices for the year 2011–12 has been estimated at Rs 3.13 trillion (short scale), which is an increase of 18.7 per cent over the previous fiscal.
Culture.
New Delhi is a cosmopolitan city due to the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural presence of the vast Indian bureaucracy and political system. The city's capital status has amplified the importance of national events and holidays. National events such as Republic Day, Independence Day and "Gandhi Jayanti" (Gandhi's birthday) are celebrated with great enthusiasm in New Delhi and the rest of India. On India's Independence Day (15 August), the prime minister of India addresses the nation from the Red Fort. Most Delhiites celebrate the day by flying kites, which are considered a symbol of freedom. The Republic Day Parade is a large cultural and military parade showcasing India's cultural diversity and military might.
Religious festivals include Diwali (the festival of light), Maha Shivaratri, Teej, Durga Puja, Chhath Puja, Mahavir Jayanti, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Holi, Lohri, Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha, Easter, Raksha Bandhan, and Christmas. The Qutub Festival is a cultural event during which performances of musicians and dancers from all over India are showcased at night, with the Qutub Minar as the chosen backdrop of the event. Other events such as Kite Flying Festival, International Mango Festival and "Vasant Panchami" (the Spring Festival) are held every year in Delhi.
In 2007, the Japanese Buddhist organisation Nipponzan Myohoji decided to build a Peace Pagoda in the city containing Buddha relics. It was inaugurated by the Dalai Lama.
Historic sites, museums and gardens.
New Delhi is home to several historic sites and museums. The National Museum, which began with an exhibition of Indian art and artefacts at the Royal Academy in London in the winter of 1947–48, was later at the end was shown at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in 1949. Later it was to form a permanent National Museum. On 15 August 1949, the National Museum was formally inaugurated and has 200,000 works of art, both of Indian and foreign origin, covering over 5,000 years.
The India Gate, which was built in 1931, was inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It is the national monument of India commemorating the 90,000 soldiers of the Indian Army who died while fighting for the British Raj in World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. The monument is barricaded now with entry to the inside arch restricted.
The Rajpath, which was built similar to the Champs-Élysées in Paris, is the ceremonial boulevard for the Republic of India, located in New Delhi. The annual Republic Day parade takes place here on 26 January. The Beating retreat takes place here two days later.
Gandhi Smriti in New Delhi is the location where Mahatma Gandhi spent the last 144 days of his life and was assassinated on 30 January 1948. Rajghat is the place where Gandhi was cremated on 31 January 1948 after his assassination and his ashes were buried and make it a final resting place beside the sanctity of the Yamuna River. The Raj Ghat in the shape of the large square platform with black marble was designed by architect Vanu Bhuta.
Jantar Mantar located in Connaught Place was built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur. It consists of 13 architectural astronomy instruments. The primary purpose of the observatory was to compile astronomical tables, and to predict the times and movements of the sun, moon and planets.
New Delhi is home to Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum, National Gallery of Modern Art, National Museum of Natural History, National Rail Museum, National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum, National Philatelic Museum, Nehru Planetarium, Shankar's International Dolls Museum. and Supreme Court of India Museum,
In the coming years, a new National War Memorial and Museum will be constructed in New Delhi for million ().
New Delhi is particularly renowned for its beautifully landscaped gardens that can look quite stunning in spring. The largest of these include Buddha Jayanti Park and the historic Lodi Gardens. In addition, there are the gardens in the Presidential Estate, the gardens along the Rajpath and India Gate, the gardens along Shanti Path, the Rose Garden, Nehru Park and the Railway Garden in Chanakya Puri. Also of note is the garden adjacent to the Jangpura Metro Station near the Defence Colony Flyover, as are the roundabout and neighbourhood gardens throughout the city.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area was declared the cleanest in North India, based on solid waste management, access to sanitation and other parameters of cleanliness, under the zone-wise Swachh Survekshan 2017.
Cityscape.
Much of New Delhi, planned by the leading 20th-century British architect Edwin Lutyens, was laid out to be the central administrative area of the city as a testament to Britain's imperial ambitions. New Delhi is structured around two central promenades called the Rajpath and the Janpath. The Rajpath, or King's Way, stretches from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the India Gate. The Janpath (), formerly Queen's Way, begins at Connaught Circus and cuts the Rajpath at right angles. Nineteen foreign embassies are located on the nearby Shantipath (), making it the largest diplomatic enclave in India.
At the heart of the city is the magnificent Rashtrapati Bhavan (formerly known as Viceroy's House) which sits atop Raisina Hill. The Secretariat, which houses ministries of the government of India, flanks out of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Parliament House, designed by Herbert Baker, is located at the Sansad Marg, which runs parallel to the Rajpath. Connaught Place is a large, circular commercial area in New Delhi, modelled after the Royal Crescent in England. Twelve separate roads lead out of the outer ring of Connaught Place, one of them being the Janpath.
Architecture.
The New Delhi town plan, like its architecture, was chosen with one single chief consideration: to be a symbol of British power and supremacy. All other decisions were subordinate to this, and it was this framework that dictated the choice and application of symbology and influences from both Hindu and Islamic architecture.
It took about 20 years to build the city from 1911. Many elements of New Delhi architecture borrow from indigenous sources; however, they fit into a British Classical/Palladian tradition. The fact that there were any indigenous features in the design was due to the persistence and urging of both the Viceroy Hardinge and historians like E.B. Havell.
In the year 2019, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Government of India introduced the Central Vista redevelopment project proposing the redevelopment of over , costing ₹ crore ().
Transport.
Air.
Indira Gandhi International Airport, situated to the southwest of Delhi, is the main gateway for the city's domestic and international civilian air traffic. In 2012–13, the airport was used by more than 35 million passengers, making it one of the busiest airports in South Asia. Terminal 3, which cost () to construct between 2007 and 2010, handles an additional 37 million passengers annually.
The Delhi Flying Club, established in 1928 with two de Havilland Moth aircraft named "Delhi" and "Roshanara", was based at "Safdarjung Airport" which started operations in 1929, when it was the Delhi's only airport and the second in India. The airport functioned until 2001; however, in January 2002 the government closed the airport for flying activities because of security concerns following the New York attacks in September 2001. Since then, the club only carries out aircraft maintenance courses, and is used for helicopter rides to Indira Gandhi International Airport for VIP including the president and the prime minister.
In 2010, Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) was conferred the fourth best airport award in the world in the 15–25 million category, and "Best Improved Airport" in the Asia-Pacific Region by Airports Council International. The airport was rated as the "Best airport in the world" in the 25–40 million passengers category in 2015, by Airports Council International. Delhi Airport also bags two awards for "The Best Airport in Central Asia/India" and "Best Airport Staff in Central Asia/India" at the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2015.
A second airport, Noida International Airport, is currently being built in Jewar.
Road.
New Delhi has one of India's largest bus transport systems. Buses are operated by the state-owned Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), which owns the largest fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG)-fueled buses in the world and Delhi Transit. Personal vehicles especially cars also form a major chunk of vehicles plying on New Delhi roads. New Delhi has the highest number of registered cars compared to any other metropolitan city in India. Taxis and Auto Rickshaws also ply on New Delhi roads in large numbers. New Delhi has one of the highest road density in India and average vehicle speed is around in peak hours in the city.
Some roads and expressways serve as important pillars of New Delhi's road infrastructure:
National Highways.
New Delhi is connected by road to the rest of India through National highways:
Railway.
New Delhi is a major junction in the Indian railway network and is the headquarters of the Northern Railway. The five main railway stations are New Delhi railway station, Delhi Junction, Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station, Anand Vihar Terminal and Sarai Rohilla. The Delhi Ring Railway, a circular railway network in Delhi that runs parallel to the Ring Road, is a part of Delhi's suburban railway services.
Metro.
The Delhi Metro is a rapid transit system serving Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Noida in the National Capital Region of India. Delhi Metro is the world's 12th largest metro system in terms of length. Delhi Metro was India's first modern public transportation system, which had revolutionised travel by providing a fast, reliable, safe, and comfortable means of transport. Presently, the network consists of 10 colour-coded lines serving 255 stations with a total length of . The network has now crossed the boundaries of Delhi to reach Ghaziabad and Noida in Uttar Pradesh, and Faridabad and Gurgaon in Haryana. All stations have escalators, elevators, and tactile tiles to guide the visually impaired from station entrances to trains. It has a combination of elevated, at-grade, and underground lines, and uses both broad gauge and standard gauge rolling stock. Four types of rolling stock are used: Mitsubishi-ROTEM Broad gauge, Bombardier MOVIA, Mitsubishi-ROTEM Standard gauge, and CAF Beasain Standard gauge. According to a study, Delhi Metro has helped in removing about 390,000 vehicles from the streets of Delhi.
Delhi Metro is being built and operated by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC), a state-owned company with equal equity participation from the Government of India and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. However, the organisation is under administrative control of the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India. Besides the construction and operation of the Delhi metro, DMRC is also involved in the planning and implementation of metro rail, monorail and high-speed rail projects in India and providing consultancy services to other metro projects in the country as well as abroad. The Delhi Metro project was spearheaded by E. Sreedharan, the managing director of DMRC and popularly known as the "Metro Man" of India. He famously resigned from DMRC, taking moral responsibility for a metro bridge collapse which took five lives. Sreedharan was awarded with the Legion of Honour by the French government for his contribution to Delhi Metro.
Sports.
The city hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games and annually hosts Delhi Half Marathon foot-race. The city has previously hosted the 1951 Asian Games and the 1982 Asian Games. New Delhi was interested in bidding for the 2019 Asian Games but was turned down by the government on 2 August 2010 amid allegations of corruption in 2010 Commonwealth Games. The city also had a bid to host the 1992 Summer Olympics, but withdrew in March 1986, seven months before the host selection.
Major sporting venues in New Delhi include the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Ambedkar Stadium, Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Arun Jaitley Stadium, R.K. Khanna Tennis Complex, Dhyan Chand National Stadium and Siri Fort Sports Complex.
International relations and organisations.
The city is home to numerous international organisations. The Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology of the UNESCAP servicing the Asia-Pacific region is headquartered in New Delhi. New Delhi is home to most UN regional offices in India namely the UNDP, UNODC, UNESCO, UNICEF, WFP, UNV, UNCTAD, FAO, UNFPA, WHO, World Bank, ILO, IMF, UNIFEM, IFC and UNAIDS. UNHCR Representation in India is also located in the city.
New Delhi hosts 145 foreign embassies and high commissions.
Summits, conferences and conventions.
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development hosted its second meeting conference in the year 1968 at New Delhi.
New Delhi hosted the 7th NAM Summit in 1983, 4th BRICS Summit in 2012, IBSA Summit in 2015, and 5th Global Conference on CyberSpace in 2017. India has also host the G20 summit in 2023 in New Delhi.
References.
Citations.
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Ankit Sharma (cricketer)
Indian cricketer (born 1991)
Ankit Nagendra Sharma (born 20 April 1991) is an Indian cricketer who plays for Puducherry in domestic cricket. He is a left-handed batsman and a slow left-arm orthodox bowler.
In the 2015–16 season of Ranji Trophy, Ankit was the second-highest wicket-taker for Madhya Pradesh, picking up 33 wickets in 9 matches. Ankit also took his career-best bowling figures of 7 for 91 against Andhra Pradesh in that season, helping his team to quarter-final stage.
He scored his first century (104 runs) playing for Madhya Pradesh at Indore against Baroda during Ranji Trophy 2017-18 session.
In January 2018, he was bought by the Rajasthan Royals in the 2018 IPL auction.
References.
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Ankit Sharma (athlete)
Indian long jumper
Ankit Sharma (born 20 July 1992) is an Indian athlete who competes in the long jump event. He holds the long jump national record of 8.19 metres set in June 2016 at the G. Kosanov Memorial Meet in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Early life and background.
Sharma was born on 20 July 1992 in Pinahat, Uttar Pradesh as the youngest child of teacher Harnath Sharma and Mithlesh Sharma. His family originally hails from Morena district, Madhya Pradesh, and migrated to Pinahat several years before Sharma was born. He did his initial schooling in Morena, before graduating in commerce in Bhopal. His elder brother Pravesh Sharma is also an athlete.
Sharma aspired to become a cricketer but could not take it up due to lack of adequate facilities in Morena. When he was eight, Sharma started practicing javelin throw. His instructors suggested him to switch to long jump after watching him "jump up with joy" at each successful throw. He took part in long jump events which were a part of Raksha Bandhan celebrations in Morena, and, at his parents' suggestion, decided to pursue a career in long jump. Apart from cricket and javelin throw, he also played volleyball, triple jump, discus throw and hurdles during his childhood.
Career.
In 2006, Sharma was selected to represent Sports Authority of India, Bhopal, when he crossed the 6-metre mark at the age of 13. He was trained by Nishad Kumar since 2009 and Romanian coach Bedros Bedrosian since 2015.
Sharma competed in the 2010 Commonwealth Games but failed to win a medal. Having participated at the 2010 Asian Games, he was left out of the Indian contingent for the 2014 Asian Games, with India incidentally fielding no athletes in men's long jump. Regarding his omission, he said, "Certain athletes were even given a third chance to qualify; I did not get even one. I pleaded for one chance but was told I was no medal hope."
In 2015, he recorded a jump of 8.04 metres at the National Games in Thiruvananthapuram and became the fifth Indian to go past the 8 metre-mark. He won the gold medal at the 2016 South Asian Games with a jump of 7.89 metres, breaking a 27-year Games record.
In June 2016, Sharma took part in the G. Kosanov Memorial Meet in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where he broke the national record two times on the same day. He recorded jumps of 8.17, 8.19 and 8.14 metres, surpassing Kumaravel Premkumar's national record of 8.09 metres set in 2013. He also gained qualification for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro where the qualification standard was 8.15 metres.
Personal life.
Sharma is posted as an income tax inspector in Chennai as of June 2016, having been selected by the Income Tax Department in 2015.
References.
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Ankit Singh
Indian cricketer (born 1995)
Ankit Singh (born 15 October 1995) is an Indian cricketer. He made his Twenty20 debut for Arunachal Pradesh in the 2018–19 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on 27 February 2019.
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Anandapur
Anandapur is a town and municipality of Kendujhar district in the state of Odisha, India.
Toponymy.
The name Anandapur (called as A+nda+Pur) derives from आनन्द सहर which in Sanskrit means the "city of happiness". During the period of Raja Govinda Bhanja, it was known as Athagarh.
Geography.
Anandapur is located at . It has an average elevation of . The town is situated on the bank of Baitarani River which flows on the southern side of the town. Madhubana is a well-known picnic place among the locals. The place like a small hill situated in the banks of the Baitarani and has tall pine-like trees. The scenery of Madhubana attracts people from nearby small villages during New Year. Anandapur barrage attracts people.
Climate.
Anandapur experiences three distinct seasons: summer, monsoon and winter. Typical summer months are from February to June, with maximum temperatures ranging from 35 °C to 45 °C. May is the warmest month in Anandapur, although summer doesn't end until May. The town often receives heavy thundershowers in May and the humidity level remains high. During the hottest months, the nights are usually very warm due to high humidity. The monsoon lasts from June to September, with moderate/high rainfall and temperatures ranging from 15 °C to 35 °C. Winter begins in October; the daytime temperature hovers around 28 °C (82 °F) while night temperature is below 15 °C for most of December and January.
Economy.
Most of the people depend on agriculture. Nowadays, most of people are inclined towards the business of transportation of iron ore mined from upper Keonjhar area meant for exports via Paradip Port through trucks and dumpers. Many of them are managing their livelihood by the means of small businesses. The most recent trend has been that many of younger generation are migrating to other states looking for jobs or opting for jobs in nearby steel plants of Kalinganagar (in neighbouring Jajpur district) after a degree or diploma in technical skill based education. As a result of all these, the per capita income of individuals has grown nowadays. Some people depend on businesses of handicraft and weaving. The town is known for its tasar silk handicraft. The political status is very complicated here and nowadays more and more people are being engaged in political and social works.
Heritage sites.
Anandapur is situated in the strike line of coastal and hilly regions. It is surrounded by green hills and situated on the bank of river Baitarani which is a sacred river of India. Also known as "Budha Ganga", it is considered one of the oldest rivers in India. During the ruling of Keshari dynasty in Odisha many temples of Shiva were constructed. Along the banks of this river many temples of Lord Shiva can be found. The Jhadeswara temple, Balunkeswara Temple, Uttareswara temple, Kundeswara temples and others are here. The Kushaleswara Temple was built by Jajati Keshari. However, the town is well known for its Jagannath Temple known as "Dadhibaman Temple" which is the main temple of the town; and the culture of the town is deeply influenced by the rituals of this temple.
Demographics.
As of 2001[ [update]] India census, Anandapur had a population of 35,043. Males constituted 51% of the population and females 49%. Anandapur had an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 57% of the males and 43% of females literate. 12% of the population was under 6 years of age.
Administration.
The city of Anandapur is managed by the Anandapur Municipal Council (AMC). However, it is also a sub-division of Keonjhar district, hence there is a sub-divisional officer (SDO) who governs the overall city.
Politics.
The MLA from Anandapur (SC) Assembly Constituency is Bhagirathi Sethi (BJD), who won the seat in State elections of 2014. He previously represented this area until 2004 through BJP and later has migrated to BJD. Former Odisha state congress president Jayadeb Jena had won earlier from here in 1995 and in 1985, and also as INC(I) candidate in 1980. He was previously the PCC president and secretary of PCC, Odisha. Bhagirathi Sethi of Biju Janata Dal had won in 2009, Dasarathi Jena of JD in 1990, and Makar Sethi of JNP in 1977.
Anandapur is part of Keonjhar (Lok Sabha constituency).
Culture and religion.
With addition to "Ratha Jatra" and "Bahuda Jatra" of the Dadhibaman Jagannath Temple, every year the people here celebrate the "Baruni Jatra". While Deogaon is known for the "Jagara" (Maha Sivaratri) festival around the Kushaleswara Temple, Kantipal celebrates Dola Purnima (Holi). Kantipal Behera Sahi celebrates "Gaja Laxmi Puja" every year. Idols of goddess Laxmi is worshipped during this event. The event continues for 3–5 days, and a fair for it is set up in Anandapur during that period attracting people from nearby small villages.
Education.
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Transport.
Ananadapur is connected by road from Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. NH-20 is the major national highway that runs through this area. The nearest railway station is Jajpur Kendujhar road. Buses and auto rickshaws run frequently from Anandapur to various surrounding rural villages. It is connected to Bhadrak and Baleswar by SH-53.
References.
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Anantapur
Anantapur, officially Anantapuramu, is a city in Anantapur district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the mandal headquarters of Anantapuru mandal and also the divisional headquarters of Anantapur revenue division. The city is located on National Highway. It was also the headquarters of the "Datta Mandalam" (Rayalaseema districts of Andhra Pradesh and Bellary district of Karnataka) in 1799. It was also a position of strategic importance for the British Indian Army during the Second World War. The GDP of Anantapur City is $ 1.728 Billion.
Geography.
Anantapur is located at . It has an average elevation of . It is located at a distance of 484 km from Vijayawada, 148 km from Kurnool and 210 km from Bengaluru which is the closest international airport.
Climate.
Anantapur has a semi-arid climate, with hot and dry conditions for most of the year. Summer start in late February and peak in May with average high temperatures around the range. Anantapur gets pre-monsoon showers starting as early as March, mainly through north-easterly winds blowing in from Kerala. Monsoon arrives in September and lasts until early November with about of precipitation. A dry and mild winter starts in late November and lasts until early February; with little humidity and average temperatures in the range. Total annual rainfall is about .
Anantapur has been ranked 31st best “National Clean Air City” under (Category 2 3-10L Population cities) in India.
Demographics.
As of 2011[ [update]] census, Anantapur city has a population of 340,613. The sex ratio was 995 females per 1000 males and 9% of the population was under 6 years old. Effective literacy is 82%, male literacy is 89% and female literacy is 75%. Telugu is the official and widely spoken language, in addition to it Urdu, Hindi, Kannada and Tamil languages are also spoken by significant minorities in the city.
Governance.
Civic administration
Anantapuru Municipal Corporation is the civic body of Anantapuru.
Public utilities
"Anantapuru Drinking Water Supply Project" and "Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust" have also step forward in supplying clean water and concentrated mainly on eradicating fluorosis. The corporation supplies chlorinated water to the city from the summer storage tank located in the town.
Transport.
Anantapur is well connected to the nearby major cities with National Highway 44 and National Highway 205 of National Highway network of India. The NH–44 connects it to Bangalore, which is towards south and Hyderabad, towards north, and NH 205 connects it to Chennai via Renigunta. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation operates bus services from Anantapur bus station. The city has a total road length of 298.12 km.
Anantapuram provides rail connectivity for the city and is classified as an "A–category" station in Guntakal railway division of South Central Railway zone.
The nearest International airport is Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru which is 190 kilometers away.
Culture.
There are a few notable people from the town with their contributions to various fields such as politics, film industry and other areas. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was the former President of India and the first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, and Paidi Lakshmayya was the first member of Parliament from Anantapur's Lok Sabha Constituency. Kallur Subba Rao was an Indian freedom activist and was the first speaker of Andhra Assembly, as well as Kadiri Venkata Reddy, who was an Indian film director, writer and also a producer. Sathya Sai Baba, was a Hindu spiritual leader; Bellary Raghava was an Indian playwright, thespian and film actor.
Cuisine.
Millets such as, Jowar, Bajra, Ragi are the food grains which are mostly used in food items. Peanuts are also popular and used in everyday food like chutney, Chikki and enjoyed as snack with boiled or spicy roasted peanuts.
Cityscape.
Neighbourhoods and landmarks in and around the city are - Clock tower, Sapthagiri circle, ISKCON temple, the railway station area, bus station, Srikantam circle,
Government Hospital, Court Road etc.
Major landmark of city is railway overbridge near Clock tower connecting Newtown constructed in late 1960. As part of connecting heart of city with NH44 this landmark is in demolition and closed till new four-lane flyover is functional.
Education.
The primary and secondary education is imparted by government, aided and private schools of the "School Education Department" of the state. The mediums of instruction that are followed by different CBSE schools like Kendriya Vidyalaya and Montessori Elite EM School, State board English mediums and Telugu mediums.
Anantapur is an important education centre of the district which has many schools, colleges and universities. Prominent institutions and universities include, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, JNTU Anantapur, Sri Sathya Sai University, central University of Andhra Pradesh, Government Medical College, Arts College, PVKK Institute of Technology, Central university of Andhra Pradesh[CUAP] etc.
Sports.
Anantapur has many sports facilities and hosted the Irani Cup in 1963–64 when Rest of India scored their lowest total of 83 against the then Ranji trophy winners Bombay, played at the Sanjeeva Reddy stadium. Several Ranji trophy matches and other regional tournaments for basketball, badminton, etc. have been hosted in Anantapur.
The Anantapur Sports Village (ASV), located alongside the National Highway 7. The Anantapur Cricket Ground sits within a complex which is managed by the Rural Development Trust (RDT). In October 2010, Rafael Nadal opened the Rafael Nadal Tennis School, which hosts district, state and national-level tournaments, as well as laying equal emphasis on the children's education and tennis training.
There are several Indoor Stadiums for Basketball and Badminton under local bodies which conducts District, State and National Competitions. There are many coaching class for taekwondo and Karate. There are also coaching centres for swimming which conduct district competitions.
Temples.
There are four temples under the management of Endowments Department.
And there are several important Temples which became good landmarks such as
References.
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Ankita Sharma
Indian television actress (born 1977)
Ankita Sharma is an Indian television actress. She worked in Sony Entertainment Television's show "Baat Hamari Pakki Hai" as Sanchi Shravan Jaiswal, "Amrit Manthan" as Rajkumari Nimrit Sodhi Malik / Natasha Oberoi, "Rangrasiya" as Laila, and "Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat" as Noor Khorasan.
Personal life.
Sharma had pursued a course in classical dance and music. When she completed her course in 2008, she was awarded the Visharad degree. This degree was very important for her, as she always wanted to be a dance choreographer. Ankita became engaged to Mayank Sharma on 24 January 2015 and married him on 9 March 2015.
References.
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Anita Sharma
Indian politician
Anita Sharma is an Indian politician from Uttarakhand representing the Indian National Congress. In the 2018 Haridwar Municipal Corporation election, she was elected Mayor of Haridwar with a margin of 3,467 votes.
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Ankit Mohan
Indian film and television actor (born 1988)
Ankit Mohan is an Indian actor who mainly works in Hindi television and Marathi films.
He is best known for his role in the television series "Sasural Genda Phool", "Mahabharat", "Kumkum Bhagya", and "Naagin 3".
He is known for television shows like "Mahabharat", "Kumkum Bhagya", "Naagin 3", "" and "Kaatelal & Sons" as well as the Marathi film "Farzand".
Personal life.
On 2 December 2015 he married Indian television actress Ruchi Savarn, his co star, whom he met on the sets of Ghar Aaja Pardesi. In September 2021, the couple announced they were expecting their first child. On 7 December 2021, the couple welcomed a baby boy.
Career.
Ankit Mohan made his debut in "MTV Roadies (season 4)." Ankit appeared in Pankaj Kapoor's Mausam, In which he played Ashfaq Hussain, an Air Force officer. He was selected from over 800 guys for the role of Shahid Kapoor's best friend. He has appeared in many Hindi TV serials like "Ghar Aaja Pardesi," "Basera" and "Shobha Somnath Ki". He also appeared in Star Plus's "Mahabharat as" Ashwathama and in Zee TV's Kumkum Bhagya as Aakash. In 2018 Mohan was seen in the superhit Marathi movie Farzand in which he played the title character of the legendary Maratha warrior Kondaji Farzand.
Mohan performed the role of Aakash on the show Kumkum Bhagya until 2016. He played the part of Yuvi in the television show "Naagin 3". At first after 7-8 he left as he was shown killed by Vishakha Anita Hassanandani. Again in December 2018 he returned to the show as a shape-shifting serpent son of Nidhogsh Vansh Queen, Sumitra Rakshanda Khan. He was shown killed by Bela Surbhi Jyoti and Vishakha Anita Hassanandani in 2019. Finally, he left the role in April, 2019. He was last seen as the male lead, Vikram in Sony Sab's Kaatelal & Sons opposite Megha Chakraborty.
Media.
He was ranked thirteenth in "The Times of India"'s Top 30 Most Desirable Men of Maharashtra in 2019. He was ranked eighteenth in "The Times of India"'s Top 20 Most Desirable Men of Maharashtra in 2020.
References.
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Anushka Sharma
Indian actress (born 1988)
Anushka Sharma (; born 1 May 1988) is an Indian actress who works in Hindi films. Her awards include a Filmfare Award. She has appeared in "Forbes India"'s Celebrity 100 in the 2010s and was featured by "Forbes Asia" in their 30 Under 30 list of 2018.
Born in Ayodhya and raised in Bangalore, Sharma had her first modelling assignment for the fashion designer Wendell Rodricks in 2007 and later moved to Mumbai to pursue a full-time career as a model. She made her acting debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the top-grossing romantic film "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" (2008) and rose to prominence with starring roles in Yash Raj Films' romances "Band Baaja Baaraat" (2010) and "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" (2012); winning the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the latter. Sharma went on to earn praise for playing strong-willed women in the crime thriller "NH10" (2015), and the dramas "Dil Dhadakne Do" (2015), "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" (2016), and "Sui Dhaaga" (2018). Her highest-grossing releases came with the sports drama "Sultan" (2016), and Rajkumar Hirani's films "PK" (2014) and "Sanju" (2018). The poorly received "Zero" (2018) was followed by a hiatus from acting.
Sharma was the co-founder of the production company Clean Slate Filmz, under which she produced films and series such as "NH10", "Paatal Lok" (2020) and "Bulbbul" (2020). She is the ambassador for brands and products, has designed her own line of clothing for women, named Nush, and supports charities and causes, including gender equality and animal rights. Sharma is married to cricketer Virat Kohli with whom she has two children.
Early life and work.
Sharma was born on 1 May 1988 in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. Her father, Colonel Ajay Kumar Sharma, is an army officer, and her mother, Ashima Sharma, is a homemaker. Her father is a native of Uttar Pradesh, while her mother is a Garhwali. Her elder brother is film producer Karnesh Sharma, who earlier served in the Merchant Navy.
Sharma has stated that being a military brat played an important role in shaping her as a person and contributing to her life. 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 was raised in Bangalore. But she did her primary schooling at St. Mary's School, Margherita, Assam. Sakshi Dhoni, the wife of M.S. Dhoni, was her classmate in that school. She completed her schooling at Army School, Bangalore. She then did her graduation in arts from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore.
Sharma originally intended to pursue a career in modelling or journalism and had no aspirations to be an actress. After graduation, Sharma moved to Mumbai to further her modelling career. She enrolled herself at the Elite Model Management, and was groomed by the style consultant Prasad Bidapa. 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. Since then she has done campaigns for the brands Silk & Shine, Whisper, Nathella Jewelry and Fiat Palio. Sharma later said, "I think I was born to emote and act. 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". Whilst modelling, Sharma also joined an acting school and began auditioning for film roles.
Career.
Breakthrough (2008–2013).
Sharma made her acting debut in Aditya Chopra's romantic drama "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" (2008), opposite Shah Rukh Khan. She took a day to prepare for her screen test at the Yash Raj Films studio and refused to do an impromptu one. 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. 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". 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. Two years later, Sharma played the leading lady in the crime-comedy "Badmaash Company", directed by Parmeet Sethi and co-starring Shahid Kapoor, Vir Das and Meiyang Chang. The film, which tells the story of four underachieving friends who begin a scam business enterprise, received mixed reviews, but was a moderate success.
Later in 2010, Sharma completed her three-film contract with Yash Raj Films by starring in "Band Baaja Baaraat", a romantic comedy directed by Maneesh Sharma and co-starring debutant Ranveer Singh. Her role was that of Shruti Kakkar, an ambitious middle-class Punjabi girl who starts her own wedding planning business. In preparation for the part, Sharma learned to speak in the Punjabi dialect, which she cited as the toughest part of her role; she described the way the lead characters in the film interact as "crude but cute" and it required her to "talk fast, sometimes mix words and even omit words completely". Trade analysts expressed doubt on "Band Baaja Baaraat"'s financial prospect, citing the middling response to Yash Raj Films' last few productions, the lack of a male star, and saying that by then Sharma was an "almost-forgotten" actress. However, "Band Baaja Baaraat" earned positive reviews and emerged as a sleeper hit. Sharma's performance was praised by critics, many of whom cited it as her best work to that point. The critic Anupama Chopra wrote that Sharma "comes into her own as the ambitious Delhi girl, who dreams of upgrading to multi-crore Sainik Farms weddings". For her work in the film, Sharma received her second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
Sharma's first venture not to be produced by Yash Raj Films was the drama "Patiala House" (2011) directed by Nikkhil Advani and co-starring Akshay Kumar. The film tells the story of a budding cricketer (played by Kumar) who encounters trouble in convincing his father of his profession; Sharma was cast as the love interest of Kumar's character. Sukanya Verma of "Rediff.com" praised Sharma's work and labelled her a "metaphor for energy". That same year, she re-united with co-star Ranveer Singh and director Maneesh Sharma for the comedy-drama "Ladies vs Ricky Bahl". She featured as Ishika Desai, a salesgirl hired to outwit a conman (essayed by Singh), who ends up falling in love with him instead. The film and Sharma's performance received mixed reviews, with Piyali Dasgupta of "NDTV" calling her "believable but not endearing". Despite mixed reviews, the film was a moderate success at the box office.
In 2012, Sharma played a supporting role alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif in Yash Chopra's "swan song", the romance "Jab Tak Hai Jaan", which marked her fifth collaboration with Yash Raj Films and her second with Khan. She was cast as Akira Rai, a Discovery Channel reporter who harbours ambitions of being a documentary filmmaker. Rajeev Masand wrote that Sharma "brings a spark to the film", but Raja Sen disagreed and said that "while Anushka can indeed play spunky, she needed here to tone it down several notches". For her role, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" proved to be the third highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2012.
Sharma next appeared in Vishal Bhardwaj's "Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola" (2013), a political satire set in a village in Haryana. Co-starring alongside Pankaj Kapur, Imran Khan and Shabana Azmi, Sharma played the titular role of Bijlee Mandola, a strong-headed girl who engages in a romantic affair with Khan's character despite being engaged to another man. The film received positive to mixed reviews from critics, and underperformed at the box office. Several critics noted that Sharma was being stereotyped as a loud and loquacious girl; Raja Sen noted that she "is great in a couple of scenes near the climax," though Kanika Sikka of "Daily News and Analysis" was more critical and found her "unconvincing".
Success and expansion into film production (2014–2016).
In 2014, Sharma played a television journalist who befriends an alien (played by Aamir Khan), in Rajkumar Hirani's religious satire "PK". Critic Saibal Chatterjee wrote that Sharma plays "a feisty poetry-loving girl who knows her mind far more than most Hindi film heroines are allowed to" and praised her for "hold[ing] her own" against Khan. Critically acclaimed, "PK" emerged as the highest-grossing Bollywood film with a worldwide revenue of over (). Sharma received various accolades for her performance including a nomination for IIFA Award for Best Actress. Sharma also became the highest grossing Hindi film actress of the year, as reported by "Bollywood Hungama". Sharma launched a production company named Clean Slate Filmz in 2013, whose first release was Navdeep Singh's thriller "NH10" (2015), in which she also played the lead role. Screened at the 5th Beijing International Film Festival, it tells the story of a married couple whose lives are endangered after an encounter with a group of criminals. In preparation, Sharma underwent interval training for three months to build her stamina. Saibal Chatterjee found the film to be a "taut and riveting thriller" and praised Sharma for "conveying a range of moods as she moves from the vulnerable to the fearless in a battle in which the odds are stacked heavily against her", and Prarthana Sarkar of "International Business Times" credited her for breaking away from her romantic comedy image. The film also emerged as a box office success.
In Anurag Kashyap's period crime drama "Bombay Velvet" (2015), (based on the historian Gyan Prakash's book "Mumbai Fables") co-starring Ranbir Kapoor and Karan Johar, Sharma was cast as a jazz singer, Rosie Noronha. Her character was referenced from the actresses Brigitte Bardot, Helen and Waheeda Rehman. To prepare, Sharma watched films of the 1950s and 1960s, and documentaries about hair and make-up. She also used temporary lip enhancers for the part, citing it as the reason behind her changed appearance on a chat show in 2014, and refuted media speculation about having undergone plastic surgery. "Bombay Velvet" was screened at the Locarno and Bucheon film festivals; critical opinion was mixed. Writing for "Business Standard", Ritika Bhatia praised Sharma's performance in the song "Dhadaam Dhadaam": "she fills the stage with such raw emotion that her mascara-laden tears and fake eyelashes flutter with arresting passion". However, the film failed to recoup its () investment. In the same year, Sharma featured in the supporting role of a dancer aboard a cruise ship in Zoya Akhtar's "Dil Dhadakne Do", an ensemble comedy-drama in which she was featured opposite Ranveer Singh. The song sequence "Pehli Baar" was choreographed by her and Singh; Shilpa Jamkhandikar of "Reuters" praised their on-screen chemistry and described it as "crackling". Her performances in "NH10" and "Dil Dhadakne Do" earned Sharma Filmfare Award nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.
Sharma next reunited with Yash Raj Films in "Sultan" (2016), a romantic sports drama from the writer-director Ali Abbas Zafar. She took on the role of Aarfa Hussain, a wrestler from Haryana who inspires the title character (played by Salman Khan) to take up the sport. Sharma was initially hesitant to play the part as she did not have the physique of a wrestler; she researched on different weight categories to "beat people's perception that all wrestlers are huge." She trained for six weeks in the sport, learned to speak the Haryanvi dialect, and interacted with female wrestlers from the state. The film and her performance received mixed reviews. Critics were appreciative of her substantial role in an androcentric film; "Filmfare"'s Rachit Gupta described Sharma as "the best thing in the film" and noted that "[e]ven though she doesn't have the physique of a wrestler, her spirited performance makes you believe in her tough but emotional character." However, Suprateek Chatterjee of "The Huffington Post" felt that she was unconvincing as a wrestler, writing that "she possesses literally zero muscles and somehow always finds the time to get her make-up just right." With earnings of over () worldwide, "Sultan" ranks among Indian cinema's biggest grossers.
Sharma achieved further success later that year when she played the lead female role of Alizeh Khan, a free-spirited girl in a loveless relationship in Karan Johar's romantic drama "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil", alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai. Mike Maccahil of "The Guardian" took note of how much Sharma "terrific spikiness" and her chemistry with Kapoor helped a mediocre picture. In another typical mixed review, Sweta Kaushal of "Hindustan Times" praised Sharma's empowered female lead. Sukanya Verma ranked her performance number four in "Rediff"'s list of top ten performances of the year. The film earned over () worldwide, and Sharma received a Best Actress nomination at the 62nd Filmfare Awards. With two top-grossing films in 2016, "Bollywood Hungama" ranked Sharma as the most successful Bollywood actress of the year.
Career fluctuations, production focus, and hiatus (2017–2022).
The 2017 fantasy comedy "Phillauri", co-starring Suraj Sharma and Diljit Dosanjh, featured Sharma as a friendly ghost who wants to reunite with her lover. In addition to acting and producing, Sharma also sang a song in it. She next collaborated with Shah Rukh Khan for the third time in Imtiaz Ali's "Jab Harry Met Sejal", a romance about a Gujrati tourist (Sharma) in Europe who falls in love with her tour guide. Commenting on Sharma's performances in "Phillauri" and "Jab Harry Met Sejal", Uday Bhatia of "Mint" praised her ability for "straight-faced com[edy]". Bhatia, however, criticised her pairing with Khan, 22 years her senior, in the latter film. Unlike her 2016 releases, both these films were box office flops.
Sharma's first film release of 2018 was the horror film "Pari", which she starred in and produced. It tells the story of Rukhsana (Sharma), a battered young woman living in the wilderness, who is rescued by a benevolent man (played by Parambrata Chatterjee). Though Shubhra Gupta of "The Indian Express" found the film "scatter-brained" and