Ranveer Singh: I am keen to do an out-and-out comedy

Dressed in a statement-making printed yellow jacket and funky sunglasses, Ranveer Singh is in a hurry to reach somewhere. And since mine is the last interview for the day, he wants to know how much time it will take. While his manager says 10, I tell him I want 15 minutes and he sweetly obliges. The young superstar, who has had a phenomenal run at the box office last year with his two releases Padmaavat and Simmba crossing over Rs 200 crore each, is now gearing up for his upcoming film, Gully Boy. Exuding confidence and charisma, the 33-year-old tells us how he transforms himself for his roles, wife Deepika Padukone’s reaction to his look in the film and more.

You sported a muscular physique for Simmba and in Gully Boy, you have a lean look. How important is physical transformation for you while approaching a role?

Growing up, I’ve admired actors, who have the ability to transform themselves completely, to the extent that they change the way they walk, talk, etc. Also, I am trying to establish myself as a versatile actor and after two films like Lootera and Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela in 2013, Dil Dhadakne Do and Bajirao Mastani in 2015, that happened to some extent. And, now, this talk about me being versatile has gained momentum. It’s heartening because I have endeavoured towards that consciously. Actors like Daniel Day-Lewis and Christian Bale are my heroes. I’ve always aspired to be like that — putting on all that muscle mass for Alauddin Khilji (Padmaavat) or Simmba and losing all that for Gully Boy. For me, a part of the process always begins with physical transformation, which is the first step to start feeling like the character. 

Fortunately, I have a median body type — six feet tall, 75 kilos — so if I put on 10-15 kilos, I can look really big and if I lose five kilos, I can look tiny. My body allows me that advantage. Next, I’m going to transform myself to look like the living cricket legend Kapil Dev. Everybody has a blueprint of him, which I have to match. It is the biggest challenge for me now.

For Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat, you had cut yourself off from everyone and stayed in isolation. What was your prep for Gully Boy?

Each director has a different approach and even I approach each part differently. Sometimes, one has to do extreme things like go into isolation for two-three weeks. Other films have different processes. For Gully Boy, I spent lot of time with writer-director Zoya Akhtar, and with the rappers. I hung out in their environment and did multiple workshops and readings with my co-actors, individually as well as in a group. 

With this movie, you have turned a rapper and become the new hip-hop artiste. How did that come about?

I am extremely happy that my vocals have been accepted. It’s really a big deal for me. I didn’t expect this to happen — Apna Time Aayega becoming No.1! It was important for me that I give my vocals because the film and the story is such. It’s about an underdog, the journey of a boy trying to become a musician. For me, it was significant, but Zoya was unsure about me lending my vocals. She said it’s a proper music album and if you are not good enough, I won’t use you because you are not an actual rapper. She took my test. I sang Naezy’s version of Meri Gully Mein. Divine bhai was there guiding me and giving tips. Only after I passed my test did Zoya agree. So, it was not a given that I would sing, I had to qualify.

You are doing a film with Alia Bhatt for the first time, but you have already done ads with her. How was it working with her?

Yes, those ads had made our jodi popular even before our film came. Alia is a mind-blowing actor. She has put in such strong performances in the few films she has done within a short span. She has achieved so much at such a young age. Her dedication, work ethics and passion are admirable. Besides, she has natural talent, and is a born actor. She is stupendous in the film — the way she seamlessly appears as the character and has picked up the language. She has an emotive intelligence. She’s a warm and lovely person to work with. I hope this is the first of many collaborations with Alia. When I am acting with her, she makes me look good. She performs so well that I react to what she is doing and my performance becomes good.

Before Simmba when Deepika Padukone saw the rushes of the film, she said you looked hot. What’s her take on your look in Gully Boy?

(Smiles) She says I am looking the hottest. She loves my look in Zoya’s films as the latter ensures that my hair is short, and there’s no facial hair. Mooch, dadhi, kuchh bhi nahin. So, Deepika loves the way I look in Dil Dhadakne Do and Gully Boy.

You have shown a great flair for comedy in Simmba. How about doing an out-and-out comedy? 

I am very keen to do an out-and-out comedy. I urge you to write about it, so that some writer, filmmaker or director reads it and approaches me. Please underline that I want to do comedy! 

What kind of comedy do you like?

I like all kinds of comedy — situational, slapstick, and even brainless comedies. I want to do something fresh. There’s an American film Napoleon Dynamite (2004), a small film that redefined the syntax of comedy. For that matter, even Zoolander (2001), did the same, at least, in my interpretation. Yeah, so I would like to do something that has never been done before in comedy.