Ranveer Singh’s infectious energy doesn’t seem to diminish despite the shoulder injury he suffered on the sets of Bajirao Mastani . Compliments have been flowing in for his urbane look in Dil Dhadakne Do even as he plays an 18th century Maratha general in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next. Excerpts from an interview:
Let’s begin with the positive response you’re receiving for Dil Dhadakne Do’s (DDD) trailer.
I signed up for the role of Kabir soon after I heard the script. Slowly, Zoya put together its ensemble cast, and Ritesh and Farhan, its crew. When I first visited the sets, I realised what a big production it was. All these people were working on a ship and we travelled to so many places. I knew the trailer would evoke a positive response and it has happened. My phone hasn’t stopped ringing ever since the trailer launch.
This is also the first time you play a typical city lad.
I met Zoya at a party after she had edited the film and she said, ‘You’re so urbane, I had never imagined you like this.’ I said, ‘I am a Yankee who has grown up in Mumbai and studied in the U.S. I am always cut out to play urban characters. It’s just that I never got a chance.’ As far as playing such roles is concerned, I think the audience has become more receptive to a new form of acting — the naturalistic and conversationalist style that Zoya presented in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara . It’s a casual style which has the flavours of Woody Allen and Wes Anderson. It focuses on people and their interpersonal relationships, their character and idiosyncrasies. It’s a far cry from the histrionics of Gujarati and Parsi theatre, Mr. Bhansali uses. That’s the style I am adopting for Bajirao .
Anushka and you reunite in DDD , after the successful Band Baaja Baaraat . Do you feel there’s a lot of expectation riding here?
Everyone has been saying on social media that the Band Baaja Baaraat duo is back. But I hope they don’t come to the theatre expecting us to share the kind of banter that Bittoo Sharma and Shruti Kakkar did. They were two distinct characters, very very different from Farah Ali and Kabir Mehra. As actors, it’s important for us to mould ourselves into these characters. We have evolved as actors since Band Baaja Baaraat.
Bhansali and you reunite for the historical drama Bajirao Mastani after Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela . Tell us about the preparation.
Bajirao Mastani is a once-in-a-lifetime film. My role has many layers — Bajirao is a warrior, statesman and a leader who falls from grace before his people. He is also a diligent son, a responsible husband, a passionate lover and a good father. The fact that it is inspired by a real-life personality admired by the Maharashtrian community adds to my responsibilities.
The stakes are very high for this film and the budget is massive. Mr. Bhansali is working with crazy passion, the kind I didn’t see even during Ram-Leela . He is finally making something he has wanted to for the past 12 or 15 years.
We trust each other completely. For Bajirao , set in the 1700s, I locked myself up for three weeks in a hotel room just to get into character. I had to transport myself to another mental space. A lot of work went into it and those three weeks of preparation were crucial for me.
Mr. Bhansali didn’t interfere during this period. It is a Rs.120-crore film and he didn’t know what the lead actor was working on. On the opening day of shoot, I performed a scene and that was when he saw Bajirao being enacted for the first time.
You recently spoke about the dearth of writers in Bollywood today. Creative people often whine about the absence of quality in written material. DDD is a rare script Zoya and Reema have written. Most films are a mash-up of two or three films or a straight remake. First, we don’t have enough writers. Second, the writers we have are either not motivated enough to write films or are not compensated well. All successful directors are also writing their own films. Rarely do we see a film written and directed by two different people.
That’s because we don’t value our writers and what they bring to the table. It’s the hardest job! Having been a writer myself (he worked as a copywriter), I know how hard it is. It requires a lot of thought and research.
