A chat with Ranveer Singh

Ranveer Singh, one of Bollywood’s hottest and most sought out actors sat down for a 1 on 1 chat to talk about his past, present and future.   Ranveer also shares about a cause close to his heart.

What is the secret behind your high voltage energy?
I’m quiet fed up of hearing these lines, “Oh he is so energetic” or “Oh itna quirky hai…”. I have always been like this. I think it’s because I’m very scared that I have just one life and there is too little time and there is too much I want to do. Life experiences have taught me that there are no guarantees and I really believe that. So for me every day is the last day. Every time I perform in front of the camera, I think it’s my last shot. That’s why I put everything into it. I think that’s translated as ‘oh he has lots of energy’. Whatever I do, I do it the fullest. Rarely, I find a dull moment and I never get bored, because I am a hungry person. I have an appetite for life.

Don’t you have bad days?
I feel like I need to be positive so that I can spread the happy vibes. I do get affected sometimes, but
I try and get over it as soon as possible; I don’t wallow in melancholy. Also, I eat lots of chocolates that keep me very happy.

What is the definition of success according to you?
My definition of success is not how much money you have, how many cars you have or what you’re wearing. The way I define success is how you touch other people’s lives and how many lives you are able to make better.

What was the turning point in your life?
When I signed ‘Band Baaja Baaraat’, that was like a fairytale.

How much have you changed in these years?
In  ‘Band Baaja Baaraat‘ I was completely over rehearsed, though it may not seem like that.

My directors Maneesh and Vikram used to complain that I had come so prepared and rehearsed to the sets of their films that it was very difficult to change anything if they wanted to!  I was too rigid at that time. I needed to adapt and that is what I learnt on the sets of Ram Leela.  Now I have become more confident with my craft, and more comfortable.  It’s a huge evolution for me.

How did ‘DDD’ happen for you?
Ritesh and I wanted to collaborate on something for a very long time, so I told Ritesh that if Farhan or Zoya has a leading role for me, I won’t even ask you for the script.  He called me while I was shooting for Ram Leela, in Udaipur, and told me about Zoya’s film.  I was a bit upset because Zoya knows me from my struggling days, as we are both from Bandra, and we have common friends.  I called Zoya and asked her why she didn’t call me directly.

I went to her house for the narration. Ten minutes into the script and I was hooked. In 20 minutes, I had decided I was doing the film whatever the climax, because it was too interesting and delicious a film.

It’s a brilliant script, and on paper, the strongest film that I have done perhaps since ‘Band Baaja Baaraat’.

You are a huge fan of Anil Kapoor, who plays your father in the film, tell us about your experience.
Anil Kapoor and I were like bros on the sets. We had this bromance going. It is not the guru-chela thing that I have with Govinda.  On the sets, we would work out together, go out together… I really bonded with him well.

It was surreal, straight out of a dream. Here’s the guy I saw, when I was three years old, in ‘Mr India’, ‘Ram Lakhan’, ‘Kishen Kanahiya’, ‘Tezaab’ and ‘Rakhwala’.

I just wanted to be like him. And here I was, sharing screen space with him.  On the first day of the shoot, all 26 primary characters of that scene were standing together and I was standing next to him, waiting for the sun to come up so we could start rolling.  I was in awe. Anil Kapoor was standing next to me and preparing for the scene.

Your chemistry with Arjun Kapoor in ‘Gunday’ looks amazing. So can we see you guys together in some other film?
I think you should spread the word and tell Karan Johar that he should cast Arjun and me in ‘Dostana 2’. But I would like to create a franchise of our own pairing. ‘Dostana’ is a franchise of John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan, and they are just awesome in the movie and I think they should continue with that. But if we are being considered for the same, then very good!

So will you kiss Arjun too in Dostana 2, if script and Karan Johar demands?
Would I kiss him? What makes you think I haven’t?

You have said that you have grown-up on Amitabh Bachchan, like we all have done, so tell us your interaction with Mr. Bachchan and what’s his importance in your life?
He is an icon of the country. It was a very special moment to me. Although I was nominated for Best Actor in almost all the award functions, but I got my first award of the season before anybody. For him to write beautiful things about my work in ‘Ram Leela’ and send a bouquet of flowers was extraordinary. My mom felt proud while presenting this note to me and I got emotional.

Tell us about your involvement with the “India Ke Hunger Bajao” campain.
There’s nothing better than to feed a child, to educate a child. I love kids! I especially feel for underprivileged kids tremendously… I feel I can do a lot of good with the kind of money that comes my way. When I get such opportunities, that is when I consider myself successful. I am happy that I am in a position to make someone’s life better.