Ranveer: was poor growing up, would only go abroad once a year

Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh spoke to CNT about his childhood holidays, bucket-list destinations, chasing his dreams and why he never travels without Carrera sunglasses.

We didn't have a lot of money when I was growing up
So my parents would save up and save up for that one big summer holiday abroad; I remember going to Indonesia, Singapore, Italy, but most often it was the USwe had a lot of family there. And December was always Goa with my grandparents.

I've had one hell of a journey

When Carrera asked me to be its brand ambassador and headline its new campaign, #DriveYourStory, I didn't realise what it would be like. They told me to just narrate my story to a camera, but in doing that, in going back to the start of my journey, I got pretty emotional. I did make some risky choices to chase my passion to be in films. So this campaign has been very special, a great fit, because it celebrates that spirit of just going out there and doing what you want and being who you are.

If not an actor, Ranveer Singh would be

A struggling actor! (Or, if things hadn't worked out in films, I'd be a copywriter, since that was my backup plan)

Charlie Chaplin, Freddie Mercury and me

My most recent holiday was to Switzerland (I'm the Indian brand ambassador of Switzerland TourismI guess that fits because I made my debut with Yashraj), and I had such a blast. It's just such a lovely country, and there are new things to do every time I go. I went to St Moritz, Interlaken, Montreux, Lausanne. I paid my respects to Freddie Mercury, the absolute legend, at his memorial in Montreux. And I visited the Charlie Chaplin museum, which was an incredibly powerful experience. He's someone I've grown up idolising, so to me, the museum is more like a shrine.

Ladakh tops my bucket list

I've always been a beach person growing up, but now, as an adult (and especially thanks to my trips to Switzerland), I'm discovering the joy and exhilaration of the mountains. I haven't done North India's mountains, though, so that's right at the top of my bucket list. I'm dying to take a bike and go to Kashmir, especially Ladakh. And other parts of the north, like Manali and Kasol.

Finally, I get to travel to watch sports

I'm obsessed with watching live sports, but couldn't afford to travel for it earlier. But now, as a brand ambassador for the English Premier League, I get to do it and it's amazing! For a true-blue sports fan to be flown across the world for matches, to meet the teams and engage with them AND explore the place, it's a dream come true.

5 things Ranveer Singh would never get on a plane without

Cellphone, passport, keys, headphones and yeah, a pair of shades to look cool at the airport. You know, you fly into Mumbai and you might be very tired, but there's paparazzi there and you don't want to be photographed looking bad, no one does. But you pop on a pair of Carreras and you look like a million bucks!

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