First Deepika, Ranveer and Shahid movie to cross INR30 bn

Did Ranveer feel he was let down by the way the government handled the row over his historical drama? Find out here

MUMBAI: Ranveer Singh is overwhelmed that with Padmaavat, he has entered the club of actors whose movies have minted over INR30 billion at the box office. He says it's a historic project that will glow in his career.

The actor essayed Sultan Alauddin Khilji in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial, which also stars Deepika Padukone and Shahid Kapoor in pivotal roles.

PHOTO:FILE

Ranveer said in a statement, "Padmaavat is a historic film for our country. I'm overwhelmed and extremely happy that the film has received this much love from audiences not just in India, but also the world over.

If Shahid Kapoor had played Alauddin Khilji in Padmaavat'

"It is a film that is and will always be extremely close to my heart and with it becoming my first ever INR30 billion film, the memory of Padmaavat will be that much more special.

He thanked Bhansali for his vision, and for giving him a character like Khilji that "will forever glow in my body of work.

PHOTO: NDTV

"This success is for all of us to cherish and remember that as artistes, we need to stand by our vision, our craft, said Ranveer of the movie, which was released on January 25 after much controversy.

Just earlier this week, the movie crossed 50 days since hitting the screens, and it's still counting at the box office.

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However, did Ranveer feel let down by the way the government handled the row over his historical drama? The Bollywood star dodged the question repeatedly, but said he was enraged by the protests which he felt bordered on fascism.

"It's bizarre when I watch it, he said of the scale of protests against the movie, when asked if people have become cynical about affairs in the country.

PHOTO: SANJAY LEELA BHANSALI FILMS

"I can't believe that it's 2018. It is so blatant that it's bizarre. It borders on fascism. I found it appalling, I was in shock which then turned into rage.

"I prefer to see the positives, and it is that the film got made, got released, with police deployed at exhibition centres, getting the appreciation it got, the perpetrators got taken to the cleaners after the release... And the film has gone on to make INR30 billion.

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"There's a silver lining, and there's a sense of victory for Bhansali, who fought tooth and nail to get it mounted, to get it made, and it eventually turned to a success.

"I have moved on to another film. And it's going really well. I hope you come and see it. It's called Gully Boy... It's a film very close to my heart, and it is embedded with a social message.

PHOTO: SANJAY LEELA BHANSALI FILMS

Padmaavat, a historical drama, went through a tumultous journey from the beginning of its shoot till its release and beyond over conjectures that it distorted historical facts.

Rajput organisation Shree Rajput Karni Sena was up in arms against the makers, and not just vandalised its sets twice and assaulted Bhansali, but also held major protests across the country opposing the film's release.

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Ranveer said it was "hugely infuriating and left him "full of rage.

"But I was asked not to do anything, he said, adding that if he was to get involved, "things would get worse and it could have been perceived as retaliation.

So, he put all the frustration in his performance as Alauddin Khilji an act that has won him appreciation all the way.

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