Anushka Sharma Birthday Special: Why She Once Changed Virat Kohli’s Name And What Shah Rukh Khan Had to Do With It – Details Inside

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“Tujh mein rab dikhta hai, yaara main kya karoon…” That line didn't just launch Anushka Sharma's career in 2008... it kind of sums up how fans have felt about her ever since. Anushka Sharma is celebrating her 37th birthday on May 1, and while she has been off the silver screen for a while, her charm and stardom haven't faded one bit.

The Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi actress has given us powerhouse performances, built a life away from the spotlight, and shared one of the most adored love stories of this generation with none other than cricket icon Virat Kohli.

But did you know that at their wedding, Anushka actually changed Virat’s name? Yep, and the reason for it involved her first co-star, Shah Rukh Khan. In a Vogue interview, Anushka revealed"

“We wanted to keep our wedding so secret that when I was talking to the caterer, we told them our fake names. We told Virat’s name as 'Rahul’.”

Now if you’re a Bollywood fan, you know Rahul has SRK written all over it. From a debut with King Khan to naming her groom after his iconic characters, Anushka’s real life has its own filmy twists.

Anushka Sharma Birthday: Why She Chose 'Rahul’ for Virat Kohli

When you want a wedding so secret that even the caterer doesn’t catch on, you get creative. And that’s exactly what Anushka did. While talking about her 2017 Italy wedding, she revealed,

“We wanted to keep our wedding so secret that when I was talking to the caterer, we told them our fake names. We told Virat’s name as 'Rahul’.”

The connection? Shah Rukh Khan. Anushka’s debut hero and the man who’s practically owned the name Rahul in half of Bollywood’s biggest hits. From Dil To Pagal Hai to Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, SRK and 'Rahul’ go hand in hand.

Secret Wedding, Private Life

Anushka dated Virat Kohli for years but never gave the media anything to chew on. Even their wedding in 2017 was so hush-hush, it caught the country off guard. Held in Italy with only close friends and family, it stayed under wraps until the couple chose to announce it themselves. Fake names and all, it was classic Anushka: minimal drama, maximum meaning.

Anushka Sharma: From Star Actress to Hands-On Mom

Born on May 1, 1988, in Ayodhya, Anushka Sharma’s birthday celebrations hit different now that she’s a mother of two. She welcomed her daughter Vamika in 2021 and son Akay three years later. Her post on Instagram confirmed the birth, but apart from that, she’s chosen to keep her kids away from the media spotlight. She may be out of frame on screen, but off-screen, she’s living her most grounded, fulfilled chapter yet.

Are Anushka Sharma and Virat Moving Abroad?

With baby Akay born in London, chatter started that the couple might settle abroad. So far, they haven’t said a word about it. No statements, no clarifications—just how they like it. If a move does happen, fans probably won’t know till they’re well into it. And honestly? That’s peak Anushka-Virat energy.

Want more rare stories like these from the lives of your favorite stars?