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I don't want to get corrupted: Ranveer Singh
Ranveer Singh is crazy in the real sense of the word. He is honest, modest and just very, very entertaining. He is known to land up in controversies because of his jovial nature. But somewhere he likes to believe that everyone has accepted the fact that he says most of what he says in jest. He lives to make his mom and dad proud and is an unabashed Govinda loyalist. He believes in not changing at all and remaining sincere and honest towards his work. Pratishtha Malhotra gets you Ranveer Singh unplugged...
You are one of the most spoken and written about stars...
I am the way I am. Being the centre of attention is nothing new to me. I naturally assume that position and I have ever since I was a kid. Whether it was in school, in class, in college, in any scenario. Even on Sports Day where I wasn't the main sportsperson, I would assume the natural position of the centre of attention somehow or the other because I was the entertainment quotient, I was the one in the big outfit entertaining everybody. It's not new to me, but not at the level that it has become. Sometimes I find now that I am too much of a centre of attention (laughs)!
Go on...
For me, if you are a certain way, people are going to pass judgement and if you are some other way, people are going to pass judgement. I just be the way I feel like, as judgement is going to be passed either way. Maybe it was a bit too much for people at first, my so-called off screen persona. But I think now people are kind of getting used to it. They are genuinely warming up to it which is nice. I like to have fun all the time.
The truth is that I am a very typical Cancerian. I get attached very easily. I am very hyper emotional, hyper sensitive and I think very deep. I get too serious and I don't like that. I don't like getting serious in any situation. I like to joke and have fun all the time. I like to keep the atmosphere light all the time. I like to see people smiling. There should be mirth and joy in and around me.
That's how I like to be most of the time. That's all there is to it. I spend a couple of hours with myself in the night mostly in stillness. The whole day is just so chaotic, be it on the film set or a film promotion. Fame has brought a lot more chaos in my life so the time that I spend with myself is very dear to me. If I did not have that side to me, I perhaps would not have been able to pull off a film like Lootera'.
You and Ranbir Kapoor are considered the future of Hindi cinema and both of you are applauded for being versatile...
I am a very avid film-goer myself. I get the most excited to see versatility in an actor. When I see Christian Bale, Daniel Day Lewis, I am stunned and I can't believe my eyes that this man who was in My Left Foot', is the same way I am watching as Lincoln. I am stumped at the transformation! In the initial stages of my career, I would want to establish that I am not restricted to one thing. If I can pull off an unabashed Delhi boy, I can also do a Lootera' post that and I can also do a Gunday'. Lootera' and Gunday' are like poles apart in terms of the kind of films that they are. I want that range in my repertoire to be demonstrated in the initial phases of my career because it is important for me to keep the audience excited...To not, in their heads, fix a certain image of me and the same thing for filmmakers. For me, the highest compliment would be to not be the top grossing hero but to be the most versatile actor.
You are very hard working as well. Whom do you look upto?
I look up to someone like Deepika. You have no idea how hard she worked that year when she had Chennai Express', Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' and Ram Leela'. I was there because I was working with her in Ram Leela'. To see it all and not show off about it...You know, it does not come easy. But it's not like I am chasing stardom either. I didn't want fame ever. It just comes across with being an actor. For me, it is about being an actor and the joy of performing.
When I used to go to Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting School, for 9 out of 10 people acting was a means to an end - the end being fame. For me, the end is acting and that is my whole prerogative... I wanted to be an actor acting in mainstream Hindi films in the Mumbai Hindi film industry and that's what I am doing right now. To be able to be in this position - which is quite an awesome position because it is like I am considered for the best films that are being made, by the best filmmakers, the best of stories - so I have an immense amount of value for this position. It doesn't come easy, the so-called stardom, but it's not like I am chasing it either. I am happy to do what I am doing. I value my opportunities and I hope to be a part of the best films.
You would be seen with your idol Govinda in your next Kill Dil'. How was it working with someone who has been your inspiration all these years?
I am beyond words when it comes to describing the feeling that it is to be on a film set with Govinda-ji. I want you to imagine that I am a kid watching TV and Raja Babu' is playing on TV and it is probably for the 64th time that I am seeing it and I have never met this person who is playing Raja Babu. I love the way he dances and I am just crazy about him! I copy him in my real life, even at school for Teachers Day for a dance performance. All the teachers being flabbergasted as, you know, it's Teachers Day and you're dancing to Meri pant bhi sexy...' (Laughs) when you're in like the VIII standard, wearing orange pants and a silver shirt with yellow shoes. I mean, I am such a big Govinda fan, I can't tell you. Maybe his contemporaries are still, for all practical purposes, ruling the roost but there is one thing that's absolutely undeniable - nobody ever had talent like him. Comedy is probably the hardest thing to do and he was the only one with the flair for comedy. There has never been anybody who has done comedy like he has. He is sheer brilliance. When Shaad Sir (Ali) and everyone were wondering who would play Bhaiya-ji in the film, he said to Adi (Aditya Chopra), What do you think about Govinda?' Adi leapt out of his seat. It was such a genius idea to cast him for this role! I can't tell you how surreal I am feeling. It's like I am tripping on acid or something. I just can't believe it...(Chuckles)
I had a very emotional moment with him when we wrapped our schedule in 3-4 hours outside Delhi. We had our wrap party and we were playing all his old songs singing and dancing and suddenly we have a moment. The kind of things he said to me about myself... I had also screened Ram Leela' especially for him at Eros and I sat next to him while he watched it, and watched him react to my performance the way he did. I have a very special bond with him. He literally treats me like his son.
Amitabh Bachchan has been all praise for you all over Twitter and in the media. He even sent you a handwritten note congratulating you on your performance in Ram Leela'...
My whole thing to become an actor was after watching these guys. I was born in '85, so you've been born into the times of Amitabh Bachchan, Govinda and Anil Kapoor. Then you grow with Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan. You grow into Akshay Kumar and then you grow into Hrithik Roshan. By that time, meri umar ho gayi thi and I was ready to become a hero (chuckles). They are the reason why I wanted to be an actor.
It was a very special moment for me especially when I received a handwritten note from Amitji after Ram Leela'. I was nominated for Best Actor for all the award functions for Ram Leela' but I got the first award of the season before anybody. I got my award and I said it also. What a guy I mean, he is Amitabh Bachchan, the icon of India forget Hindi films, he is the icon of the country! Shaad was explaining to me that if I draw a silhouette of Michael Jackson, you can recognise that it's him; if you draw a silhouette of Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, you can recognise that it is Amitabh Bachchan. I mean, that is the testament to his greatness. For him to hand write a note to me with a bouquet of flowers saying wonderful things about my performance - it was extraordinary. My mom was there in the room and she presented it to me saying, Look what's come for you'. I was quite emotional because I live to make my mom and dad proud. To see the pride in her eyes - that, for me, is greater than any award.
Another thing happened recently... I came home and there was a framed poster of Ram Lakhan' in my room and I asked where it came from. Coming closer, I saw Subhash Ghai had written on it in permanent maker, You remind me of the energy that these two had. All the best for Gunday'!' So, you know, when these stalwarts recognise you in spite of being very new in this short span and when they were the same people who inspired you to do the kind of work that you are doing, it is all the validation you need and is motivational that I should just keep going. The honesty and sincerity that I have in my work, I better keep it up and not get corrupted.
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