Time, some physicists contend, is a perspective and not a universal truth. Ranveer Singh could be one of the proponents of this idea. He is an hour-and-a-half late for our interview — ironic, considering he is speaking on behalf of a Swiss watch brand. Once he arrives, Singh is apologetic and ready to take on what the day has in store for him: a series of events that is taking place at a rate we can’t register and that will see him changing outfits three times!
At the moment, he is in a Sahil Aneja grey houndstooth suit with a neon green overcoat (later on in the day, I learn he switched to an all-white Simone Khambatta ensemble with an embellished jacket for The Wedding Junction show, and a Gucci Fall 19/20 red suit for the Vogue Women of the Year awards). Playing with his Franck Muller Steel Croco watch, the actor talks about his concept of luxury. He calls himself a ‘ fakir artiste’ — someone who knows what matters in life but who, once in a while, can’t resist the lure of the wild. “I understand all too well what to attach value to in life. The fakir artiste in me doesn’t need anything but the sun and some good music. However, there is also a spoilt brat in me who loves to indulge in the finer things in life. Sipping on a glass of good wine is pretty much an unmatched experience,” he says.
Singh, who has wrapped up Kabir Khan’s sports biopic, ’83 , works on a simple theory: if you work hard, you deserve to experience the finer things in life. “I work a lot and I love my work. I put in the hours and put all of myself into it, so a treat is justified.”
Some wrist action
One of these treats was the first sports car he bought in 2017, an Aston Martin Rapide. “I’m new to the world of luxury; in fact, I only began to travel the way I wanted to four years ago,” he says. But Singh has caught on fast. With a dream destination wedding in Italy and the choicest of brands wanting to hitch their ride to his ever-rising star, he is now the brand ambassador for Franck Muller watches in India. Interestingly, director Rohit Shetty gifted him a black Franck Muller Vanguard last year, during the shoot of Simbaa (Singh claims he has never bought a watch for himself till date). Perhaps, it was a sign of things to come.
The brand also brought back childhood memories, he tells me. “I remember my mother expressing a desire to own a Franck Muller when I was little, and that, for some reason, has always stayed with me. It was the one thing she aspired to have. So when this association came about, I couldn’t wait to tell her. It was an emotional and proud moment for me.”
Designer ambitions
Having visited the Franck Muller headquarters in Switzerland, Singh, who is a fan of the maison’s complications, shares that there are a couple of things still on his wish list. “I loved watching the process of how a watch is made and it would be a dream to design my own,” he says. He has a few ideas in mind — like a watch designed to be worn as a neckpiece (à la rapper Flavor Flav). “Designing just one piece that only I’d own is what I’d love to do next.”
For now, the man who can have anything he wants, says he would like some downtime to spend with his wife, Deepika Padukone. “No pun intended, but the luxury of time is what luxury means to me at this point in my life.”
Franck Muller watches start at ₹6.5 lakh. Details: franckmuller.com
