'I will not play safe': Ranveer Singh

Last year, Ranveer Singh not only contributed Rs 500 crore to the Indian box office singlehandedly but also proved that he’s chameleon-like, changing colour and form in two diverse film outings — Padmaavat, where he played Alauddin Khilji and Simmba in which he essayed the role of Inspector Bhalerao Sangram. He tells After Hrs what drives him to constantly push the boundaries.

You’ve had two blockbusters in one year. What are your thoughts about it?

It’s humbling that I could contribute to the industry that I love. It’s a place that has given me everything; I have realised an ordinary boy’s dream of being a Bollywood star. It is motivating that audiences are liking my craft and choices, when it comes to content. It’s a huge responsibility of doing better and better cinema from here on. As an artiste, I’ve always wanted to entertain audiences, at the same time giving them something new with each film. I have this constant endeavour to push myself and keep evolving as an actor. I want to continue being on this path because I have tasted success as a quintessential masala film hero as well as an anti-hero. 

Would you say that this is an exciting time for an actor in Hindi cinema?

These are exciting times for the industry and I want to stay on course, hone my skills further and try to become one of the best actors around. It’s a personal ambition to offer the audience something novel and exciting each time my film releases. 

You were appreciated as a masala commercial hero in Simmba. Since you always wanted to explore this genre, it must have been fulfilling, right? 

With Simmba again, I was doing something absolutely new, thereby adding a different dimension to my repertoire. I had never done this kind of an out-and-out potboiler — a kind of movie I had always wanted to do and I gave it my all. I wanted to give it my touch, my understanding of the commercial masala movie hero and I’m happy everyone has loved that. I’m extremely grateful to the audience and the critics for the love they have showered on my performance and on the film. It is encouraging and truly humbling. 

Are you happy that your first collaboration with Rohit Shetty has also become the filmmaker’s highest-grossing film? 

The success of the film goes to Rohit Sir, who is the master of commercial masala cinema and has eight back-to-back Rs 100-crore blockbusters under his belt. I want to thank him for believing in me and making me his hero! His vision propelled by the collective effort of his entire team has been the sole reason behind Simmba hitting the bullseye. I look forward to my next creative collaboration with Rohit sir.

You have shown incredible versatility by choosing to be an anti-hero with Padmaavat and a colourful cop in Simmba.

I’m always hungry for good cinema and diverse content. I have realised over time that I like to go through a metamorphosis and become someone else on screen. I can’t play safe and I won’t play safe. It just doesn’t excite me as an artiste, so my content choices seem diverse. I can play a bloodthirsty villain, a cop, to channelising the voice of the streets in Gully Boy. I want to challenge myself, take bigger risks and entertain people who want to pay money to come to theatres to watch a good performance.