Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma has hit out at "misogynistic" online trolls after she received abusive social media messages over her reported on-off relationship with Indian Test cricket captain Virat Kohli.
Star batsman Kohli pleaded with Internet users to stop attacking Sharma in a passionate appeal on Instagram earlier this year, saying it was shameful to blame her for his performances.
Ahead of the release of blockbuster "Sultan", in which Sharma plays a female wrestler, the Hindi film actress told AFP it had been difficult coming to terms with the online abuse.
"It's one thing to be abused for a film I did or to be trolled if I did something wrong. But to be abused for something I had no association with? That was hurtful," she said.
"I have been trolled more than many of my peers. At the beginning I didn't know how to react but now I don't care," Sharma added in the telephone interview.
The status of Kohli and Sharma's high-profile relationship is a staple in the gossip pages of India's newspapers, despite the couple themselves refusing to speak directly on the subject.
Sharma, 28, and Kohli, 27, began dating in 2014 but were rumoured to have broken up earlier this year before apparently getting back together again, according to several Indian media outlets.
Sharma, whose film credits include hit science fiction comedy "PK", received negative comments on Twitter last year after she travelled to Australia to watch Kohli in the cricket World Cup.
She was pictured sitting in the stands as Kohli made just one run during India's semi-final defeat to Australia in Sydney, with some Twitter users suggesting it was her fault.
In March, Kohli, currently the hottest property in Indian cricket, wrote on Instagram: "Shame on blaming and making fun of her (Sharma) when she has no control over what I do with my sport."
'Powerless men'
"If anything she has only motivated and given me more positivity," he added, following it up with a similar message on Twitter asking for people to have "compassion".
"I think it's misogynistic, powerless men who have no other way to put you down, whose egos are hurt because you are a successful working woman with your own money and independence," Sharma told AFP this week.
The actress, who played the lead role in 2008 romantic drama "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi", stars alongside Salman Khan in her next movie "Sultan", which is due for release on July 6, to coincide with the Muslim Eid holiday marking the end of Ramadan.
Khan, who sparked controversy this week when he said his heavy training schedule for the film left him feeling "like a raped woman", plays an ageing Indian wrestler trying to qualify for the Olympics.
Sharma plays a young female wrestler from the same town as Khan's character. She has ambitions of her own and the pair clash before developing a bond to help them pursue their mutual dreams.
"I had just six weeks to build muscles and change my training to weight lifting and learn wrestling. I didn't want to do tricks. I wanted to make it look real and authentic as a sport," she said.
AFP
Thu Jun 23 2016
![Bollywood actress Sharma slams India's online trolls Bollywood actress Sharma slams India's online trolls](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-06/51466671137_AnushkaSharma.jpg)
The film actress said it had been difficult coming to terms with the online abuse.
![PPZ-MAIWP catat RM511 juta kutipan zakat tahun ini, naik 10 peratus PPZ-MAIWP catat RM511 juta kutipan zakat tahun ini, naik 10 peratus](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/61714481430_TBNAIM.jpg)
PPZ-MAIWP catat RM511 juta kutipan zakat tahun ini, naik 10 peratus
PPZ-MAIWP mencatat kutipan zakat sebanyak RM511 juta dari Januari hingga Jun tahun ini dengan peningkatan sebanyak 10 peratus berbanding tempoh sama pada 2023.
![Empat terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh Empat terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721144143_TBBANGLADESHCAMPUS.jpg)
Empat terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Abu Sayeed, seorang daripada penyelaras dan pelajar di Universiti Begum Rokeya di Rangpur utara, terbunuh semasa pertempuran dengan polis.
![Misi ekonomi produk agrikomoditi ke India perkukuh hubungan dua hala Misi ekonomi produk agrikomoditi ke India perkukuh hubungan dua hala](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721130378_JohariAbdulGhani.jpg)
Misi ekonomi produk agrikomoditi ke India perkukuh hubungan dua hala
KPK akan mengadakan Misi Ekonomi Produk Agrikomoditi Malaysia ke India pada 17-18 Julai ini.
![Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/41715247870_SohThianLaijpg.jpg)
Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM
Pemimpin perniagaan dan usahawan daripada golongan belia merupakan pemacu penting yang akan membentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia, kata Presiden Persekutuan Pekilang-Pekilang Malaysia.
AWANI Tonight: 16 July 2024
#AWANITonight with @Hafiz_Marzukhi
1. Govt mulls amending Penal Code to deal with cyberbullying
2. England's Southgate resigns after Euro 2024 Final defeat
#AWANIEnglish #AWANINews
1. Govt mulls amending Penal Code to deal with cyberbullying
2. England's Southgate resigns after Euro 2024 Final defeat
#AWANIEnglish #AWANINews
![9,241 pelajar Palestin terbunuh dalam serangan Israel sejak 7 Oktober 9,241 pelajar Palestin terbunuh dalam serangan Israel sejak 7 Oktober](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81718630490_Smokerises.jpg)
9,241 pelajar Palestin terbunuh dalam serangan Israel sejak 7 Oktober
9,318 pelajar terbunuh dan 14,671 lagi cedera di Semenanjung Gaza manakala di Tebing Barat, 103 pelajar terbunuh dan 505 lagi cedera.
![Penumpang Singapore Airlines meningkat hampir 14 peratus pada Jun Penumpang Singapore Airlines meningkat hampir 14 peratus pada Jun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721142800_AirbusA.jpg)
Penumpang Singapore Airlines meningkat hampir 14 peratus pada Jun
Rangkaian penumpang Kumpulan SIA meliputi 125 destinasi setakat Jun dan rangkaian kargo terdiri daripada 129 destinasi.
![Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/41716613114_TBsprm.jpg)
Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman
Kesemua individu juga perlu hadir ke pejabat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) sebulan sekali untuk melaporkan diri.
![KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81719822088_ZambryAbdKadir.jpg)
KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat
KPT mengalu-alukan cadangan PAC berhubung pelaksanaan dan pemakaian Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024, kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan kementerian itu.
![SUKMA 2024: Sepak takraw wanita mungkin digugurkan SUKMA 2024: Sepak takraw wanita mungkin digugurkan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720679430_AbdulKarimRahman.jpg)
SUKMA 2024: Sepak takraw wanita mungkin digugurkan
Sepak takraw wanita berpasukan berkemungkinan akan digugurkan daripada senarai acara temasya Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) 2024 berikutan jumlah penyertaan kurang daripada jumlah minimum yang ditetapkan.
![Bila Shah Rukh Khan jadi orang kerdil... Bila Shah Rukh Khan jadi orang kerdil...](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-04/61523027644_zero.jpg)
Bila Shah Rukh Khan jadi orang kerdil...
Satu lagi daya penarik Zero, ia adalah filem terakhir lakonan Sridevi yang meninggal dunia pada 24 Februari lalu.
![Kapten kriket India Virat Kohli kahwini bintang Bollywood Anushka Sharma Kapten kriket India Virat Kohli kahwini bintang Bollywood Anushka Sharma](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-12/71513048231_anushka.jpg)
Kapten kriket India Virat Kohli kahwini bintang Bollywood Anushka Sharma
Fanatik dengan sukan kriket dan filem-filem Bollywood, rakyat India telah mengikuti dengan teliti perkembangan perhubungan pasangan itu selama bertahun-tahun.