If you are excited about your work, it’s not difficult: Ranveer Singh

After Padmaavat, Ranveer Singh is now busy wrapping up Gully Boy. Recently, he spoke about his journey on the period film, his next project, former co-star Shahid Kapoor, and why his name can’t be taken in the same breath as Shah Rukh Khan. Over to him...

A HINDI FILM HERO AS WELL AS A VILLAIN

Ranveer says that while he was a bit hesitant about taking on the role of a man who is extremely evil, the praise that has come his way has made him happy. He adds, “Now that this kind of appreciation is pouring in, all this is ‘sone pe suhaaga’. For me, the process is the prize. I genuinely believe in it. There is no greater gift for me — a kid who always had stars in his eyes and just wanted to be a Hindi film hero. Here, I got to be a Hindi film hero as well as a villain.”

LOOKING UP TO SRK

While most actors shy away from dark characters, Ranveer decided to take up such a role by agreeing to essay Alauddin Khilji on screen. Similarly, Shah Rukh Khan, too, had made the risky choice of dabbling in the anti-hero genre with movies like Baazigar, Darr, and Anjaam. Ranveer says there can’t be ‘any comparison’ with the superstar. “I have been acting in movies for about seven-and-a-half years and from my very first film, people have been drawing comparisons with Shah Rukh Khan. I don’t think there’s any basis for it. He is a living legend. You can’t even take my name in the same breath as him. He has achieved and contributed a lot to Hindi cinema. He is a game-changer in so many ways. Like I always say, even if I can achieve an iota of what he has managed to do, I will consider that to be a genuine achievement.”

ON CO-STAR SHAHID KAPOOR

Though there wasn’t any news about a tussle with Padmaavat co-star Shahid Kapoor, a few interviews where he called himself the ‘odd one out’ on the sets raised a few eyebrows.

When asked about Shahid feeling left out, Ranveer says, “To be honest, I did my best to welcome him and did whatever I could do to be a supportive co-actor. But I think it’s got to do with the genre as well. Padmaavat is his first costume drama. So, such a film has its own set of unique challenges, which I faced during Bajirao Mastani and it takes some time to get adapted to it. I think he is reacting to that.”

‘GULLY BOY IS SPECIAL’

Ranveer is currently busy with Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy that releases next year. The film is currently under production. Is the switch from a Padmaavat to a Gully Boy difficult? “If you are excited about your work, it’s not difficult at all. The day I finished shooting Padmaavat, I was thinking about Gully Boy because that’s a film, which is very dear and special to me. I strongly feel for these people on which the characters are based on. They are marginalised people from the lowest strata of the society who have a tough existence. It’s a very difficult life and they find their expression as artistes.”

MUSIC MATTERS

The story will portray the inspirational lives, from the bylanes of Dharavi and Ranveer is kicked about the same. The actor also raps all the songs in the film himself. “They have started a music scene that’s so unique. It’s in Bambaiyya language which is the most incredible thing. You have to read sometimes what these kids are writing. 

They are in their early 20s and they write social commentary about what’s wrong in the system and make such strong observations and comments on the state of affairs. So, I strongly feel for them and I want to do what I can to give a platform to these amazing musical talents. Gully Boy is a story which I really want to tell along with Zoya. You will be quite amazed to hear its music,” he signs off.