Boxing was one of the sports he pursued while studying in school near the foothills of Shimla. And his training in this physically demanding sport is helping Rannvijay Singh to play a pugilist in an upcoming film.
Filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor, who directed Rannvijay in ‘Mod’, is making this film.
“I am playing a character who worships Tyson, famous the world over for his powerful punches that knocked down big names from the history of boxing. Since I am not playing Iron Mike, I do not have to develop my physique like him. The film is not on the lines of Will Smith’s starrer ‘Ali’ in which he played Muhammad Ali or ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ in which Farhan Akhtar is playing legendary athlete Milkha Singh.”
During free time, Rannvijay spars with a boxer who comes from an Army background.
“Thankfully, I got a number of opportunities to box while studying in a school near the foothills of Shimla. I received tips on boxing from various coaches and this helped me to understand what goes on in the boxer’s mind.”
Pointing out that his film is going to be different from Dharmendra’s much talked about movie on boxing which starred his two sons, Rannvijay says Nagesh Kukunoor will show the emotional side of a boxer.
“Nagesh will give his own special touch to this film. It will be edgy with interesting twists and turns and emphasis will be on adventure. I can assure you that it will be completely different from ‘Apne’ which was essentially a family drama.”
Rannvijay has been an adventure freak right from his student days at an Army school to his present job of veejaying and acting. Finally, Nagesh discovered his passion for adventure sports when the duo went on an expedition some months ago.
“He realised that only I could do justice to this character who is an adventure freak. The character is quite similar to me in terms of hobbies. In his earlier film, I played a docile character.”
Defending Bollywood filmmaker’s latest obsession to produce films on sports or sports personalities, the VJ-cum-actor says sportsperson the world over are a role model for millions of people. “Even in Hollywood, so many films on sportspersons have been produced. Indian sports personalities have given their blood, sweat and tears to win medals for us in either Asian Games or Olympics. It is time we portray them as heroes and inspire millions who can follow in their footsteps.”
A fitness enthusiast, Rannvijay regularly uses sports bikes while pedalling from Bandra to other locations in Mumbai wherever shooting for either his show on MTV channel or a film. “As it is, the spiralling petrol price has made it difficult for everyone to use their cars. If we pedal sports bikes then we are not polluting our environment and also saving money.”
