Ranveer Singh: I was thrilled to bits when Anushka signed DDD

The bundle of energy that he is, Ranveer Singh is basking in the positive praise that he has received for the Dil Dhadhakne Do (DDD) trailer so far; and in intense preparations to get back on the sets of his epic Bajirao Mastani'. Always a friendly, laid back & sharp star to speak to, he speaks to Archita Kashyap about his urban turn on celluloid, even as he sports the bearded Bajirao look and shoulder sling nonchalantly.

Lets begin with the positive response that you're receiving for Dil Dhadhakne Do' after it's trailer has released. Were you expecting such a positive response?

I signed up for the role of Kabir, immediately when I heard the script. DilDhadhake Do' was a killer script and slowly, slowly, Zoya brought in its' ensemble cast. Each one was a heavy hitter. So the ensemble came together really well. Then she put together a great crew, and Ritesh and Farhan put together the production so well.

When I first went on the sets, I realized that it is actually quite a big production! It was on a grand scale and all these people were working on a ship. We were travelling to so many places! Apart from its big scale, when we were actually on the ship and playing the script out, I always had a good feeling. I always knew that there would be a positive response to the promo, but what has happened! Basically, I knew that this would be a good thing. I was never unsure about that. Shooting for this film has been a great experience.

But the response to the trailer has been thundering and it's beyond my expectations! It has been more than what I expected. I am so glad that the film has become so hot after the trailer has released! It always was hot. Ever since the trailer came out, my phone has been ringing non stop. I have consciously stayed in my Bajirao' shell as I am shooting for the film currently (BajiraoMastani). I check my phone once a day. And it's simply been an unprecedented amount of activity for me after the trailer launch! Things have been really buzzing around since the trailer.

In the repertoire

I met Zoya at a party after she had edited the film for a bit and she said, "You're so urban'! I would have never imagined you like this!" I said, "I am a Yankee, have grown up in Mumbai and studied in the USA! I was always cut out to play an urban character. It's just that I never got a chance to play such a character before." That was her initial feedback- that I am different in the film. For a director to say that was definitely special.

Like you, everyone who has seen the trailer so far has been saying that I am looking and coming across as different, than before. It's one thing to look different, and still act in the same way.

I think it's this new form of acting that we have become more receptive to in our cinema- this naturalistic and conversationalist form of acting that Zoya also delivered with Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara'. Audiences are accepting it. It's a far cry from this histrionics and flamboyant style of Gujarati & Parsee style of theater that Mr. Bhansali uses. That's the style that I am adapting for Bajirao'.

This conversationalist style is very casual. It's like two people sitting on a couch and having a conversation; and has flavors of Woody Allen & Wes Anderson. It focuses on people and their interpersonal relationships and their characters and idiosyncrasies and quirks; and their dysfunctional side in a contemporary setting. Even Vikram (Vikramaditya Motwane) whom I met two days ago said, that you are looking great in the DDD trailer; because I always knew that's one thing that you are always suited for. Who better to do it than Zoya?

Anushka and you are paired opposite each other in the film. Considering, both of you have had a very good film like Band Baaja Baraat' together, do you take that sort of chemistry forward in DDD too.

Everyone has been saying on social media, that the Band BaajaBaraat' duo is back. Of course that's us but I hope that they don't come to the theatre expecting us to share the kind of banter that Bittoo Sharma &Shruti Kakkar had. They were two distinct characters, very very different from Farah Ali & Kabir Mehra. As actors, it's important for us to mold ourselves into these characters. The dynamic they share is different as are the interactions. While you will see the two of us together, this is something new on offer.

Also since the time we did Band Baaja Baraat' together, we have evolved as actors. We're different people since then. So the interactions will be interesting to see. Zoya is a fantastic writer and she knows so much about relationships. Along with Reema (Kagti) she writes out these characters very well.

I admire Anushka for having the security to take up a part in an ensemble cast you know. I was thrilled to bits when she had signed the film. There are three things here. One is a chance to reunite with Anushka; she is a cracking actor and makes me look good! Second is the star value that she brings to an ensemble. It makes the film even more star studded. And she is an actor. She is not there for glam value alone. She also has the coolest part, which is why she picked it up (smiles) But hats off to her for the coolness to be part of an ensemble. I was hoping I would make up for the nuisance that I was to her during our first two films. I would ask her so many questions and then be hyper over small things. I was definitely calmer and do hope I have made up for that!

Have you watched NH 10'? What do you think of it?

Yes I was at the screening. I LOVED her in the film! I liked the film and for the most part I was on the edge of my seat. But I loved Anushka's work in it. I felt Navdeep that he had managed to create a very fine balance. It's got gore but just enough; not so much that it batters your senses and you get disgusted by the end of it and therefore, dissociate with what you see. Getting the audience on the edge of the seat is a very fine art, kudos to him. Anushka really managed to carry the film on her shoulders. I remember that during the screening I was sitting next to Shakun Batra and I held on to him so many times! At the end, it felt like I had watched a very good film today.

Sanjay Bhansali and you have delivered a credible box office success with Ram Leela'. You reunite for a drama based on history for Bajirao Mastani'. Tell us about preparing for the film.

Bajirao Mastani' is a once in a lifetime film. For me, it's a role of a lifetime. The layers- he is a warrior, a statesman, a leader who falls from grace before his people, he is a diligent son, he is a responsible husband and he is a passionate lover, and he is good father. There's much to explore here, and he is a person who actually lived and these are true stories from his life. So it's a big responsibility. In the Maharashtrian community he is looked up to. I take this responsibility quite seriously. I understand the opportunity that is presented to me. It's a very big deal for me to play this role. It would be for any actor at any stage of his career. And I am getting to do this in my fourth year! It can be a career defining part.

The stakes are very high for this film. The budget is massive. And Mr. Bhansali is working with crazy passion, the kind that I didn't even see during Ram Leela'. He is finally getting to make something that he has wanted to make for 12-15 years. Each time he wanted to make a film, he wanted to make Bajirao' but ended up making something else. Every single time!

Finally the time to make Bajirao' has come; so it's the magnum opus of magnum opuses. The drama & the performances are special.

And he has shown such faith in me to cast me as Bajirao. He believes that I will deliver. He only works with the best actors if you notice; be it Rani Mukherjee, Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit. To be in that league; for me to have acted in a Bhansali film you are already part of an elite group to have that privilege. He extracts the best from his actors; and he casts only those who have that kind of depth and ability.

You're working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali for a second time- how has it been like?

The thing is, he and I, we share an equation that perhaps even he hasn't shared with any other actor so far. I definitely haven't have this kind of relationship with any creative collaborator, forget about a director. No other creative person has stimulated me to this extent.

For instance, for Bajirao' when we started the film, I locked myself up for three weeks in a hotel room just to get into character. I had to transport myself to another mental space. It's set in the 1700s and is a very distinct character to play. A lot of work went into it and those 3 weeks of prep was very important for me.

Mr. Bhansali didn't interfere in the prep. He had given me the tools to prepare and was completely hands off! I mean such a big film, its almost a 120 crore film! He didn't see what the lead actor was working on and presenting. On the first day of shoot, I came on set and performed a scene. That was when, for the first time, he saw what Bajirao would feel like and sound like. These are his mannerisms and this is his energy and we have that amount of trust.

We trust each other blindly and we don't have to talk anymore. We are beyond verbal communication. After every scene is over, I already sense what he is feeling. All I have to do is look in his direction and I know, what needs to be changed you know. He is very trusting and collaborative. I appreciate him immensely & he is an incredible director.

On films and their originality

I have felt about this for the longest time. When creative people -actors and filmmakers- like us meet we keep whining about how there is a dearth of good material and that none of the content is original No one is writing anything good.

In that sense, DDD is a rare script that Zoya & Reema have written, and is completely original. Most times a film is a mash up of 2-3 different films, or a straight remake. Firstly we don't have enough writers. Secondly, whatever writers we do have are either not motivated enough to write films or not compensated well. All successful directors are also writing their own films. Very rarely do we see a film that is written and directed by two different people.

That's because we don't value our writers and don't value what they bring to the table. It's the hardest job! It's so tedious! Having been a writer myself (I used to be a copy writer) I know how hard it is. It's exhausting! It requires a lot of thought & research.

But where are we rearing any writers? When young people want to take up writing, and look at how little a writer is paid, they think that maybe I should take up something else. So we need to pay our writers better. When we pay them better, they will work harder. This will mean more content which in turn, will mean more competition. This will eventually automatically raise their standards.

Most of this came up when I was talking to Karan Johar to preparing for this talk and I am thankful to him for he had a lot to contribute. He said that actually it's like a crisis situation when it comes to writers. And his second concern was how budgets are spiraling out of control.

Then I got a lot of feedback from writers (Advaita Kala, Habib Faisal) that it was a good relevant point that I raised on an important platform. From all the entertainment that I provided, this was a significant takeaway.

Lastly, Deepika is supposed to have been around, helping you get better after your shoulder injury. Has she been a big support?

She is such a sweetheart! She is a very caring person. She has been absolutely lovely, just lifting my spirits. I was quite bummed out about this.

I was doing well and I had gathered momentum and I was doing well. And then something like this happens during a film like this when a lot is already being demanded from your body with dancing, sword fighting and horse riding. When it happened I was really low.

But she was really lovely and is a really, really solid friend. During my dengue too, she was around. At times like this you know who is a true friend and who isn't. And I am very lucky to have her as part of my life.