It is quite a task to look for a favourite character in the films of a seasoned and powerful actor like Anushka Sharma. Be it women-centric films, cliché romances or even supporting roles, she is an artist who has done it all. However, a character that has stayed with me, in spite of a relatively shorter screen time, is Dil Dhadakne Do's Farah Ali. Her screen presence is quite limited since the film has an ensemble star cast, however, it is powerful enough to empower the audience, especially young women.
In the film, Farah is majorly depicted as an exception to the rich upper-class people on the cruise. Unlike them, she is not pretentious or hypocritical, nor does she have to conform to societal pressures like Ayesha (Priyanka Chopra) and Neelam (Shefali Shah). She seems like a creation borne out of director Zoya Akhtar's feminist approach that intends to break away from the dull and mundane lives of the rest of the characters.
The best part about her is that while she has had her share of struggles like any other, she does not seem to crib about her life or her past. When Kabir (Ranveer Singh) asks her how she managed to survive after running away from home, she proudly says, "I worked!. It is Farah who enlightens him to not care and break free from the claws of society. "Agar tum bhi meri jagah hote toh kud padte yahan se, aur fir doobo ya tairo." (You would have done the same, if you were in my place. Jumped from here, and then either sink or swim). This dialogue turns out to hold significant meaning, as Kabir does actually jumps off the cruise ship without thinking too much about the consequences.
Through her experiences, Farah gives life lessons to not just Kabir but also the audience. She makes us feel that perhaps it is okay to break free, commit mistakes, own up to them and move on. Even if you are a little less successful, life is still worth living on your own. In a particular instance, when Kabir offers to compensate for her pay cuts, she snaps right away, "Money can't buy you everything, Mehra." Thus, even though she likes him, she makes it very clear that dancing is her first love for which she can and will always fight the world.
Although a bit underrated and lesser known, yet Farah is someone we all need to look up to and get inspired from in life. There is a reason why the writers give her more agency than her male counterpart Kabir, or any other character for that matter. It is because she is relatable and we all need a little bit of Farah in ourselves. So when Kabir calls her "Fearless Farah", we know that she is perhaps the only character in the film who is an exception to speak her mind and not fall into the trap.