Ranveer on Deepika, Anushka, Sonakshi

We caught up with Ranveer for a chat at the Yash Raj Studios late on Wednesday and the actor was looking dapper in a white shirt and blue jeans. As we settled over some coffee and sandwiches, the actor opted for almonds. And we popped the first question:

Are you on a diet?

Yes. I have to become leaner for Gunday and Ram Leela.

You had a long stint with Bhansali, who is known to be a hard taskmaster. How was the experience?

He pushes your limits and makes sure you are better than your best! On the sets, he is not happy with anything less than magic. He is temperamental. But then so are most creative people. The best part about working with him is that he involves the actors in the making of the film.

Tells us about your relationship with Deepika.

I am not dating her. Bhansali wanted us to develop a comfort level, as the film we are doing is a passionate and intense love story. And while working on it, I grew fond of her.

But the way you hugged her at a Dubai nightclub was very conspicuous...

I come from a family where people are physically affectionate. Hugging and kissing comes naturally to me. It is a very casual thing.

Would one go all the way to Dubai to meet a friend who is returning to the city in the next 24-48 hours?

As I said, I am fond of her. I enjoy her company thoroughly. We do what normal youngsters do.

Which is?

(Smiles) Grab a coffee or go for a film…. But we usually have common friends with us.

Correct me if I am wrong. You went with Deepika to a New Year party in Alibag?

You are not wrong. We have a common friend in Alibag who invited us over.

Are you attracted towards her?

She is a very attractive girl. In fact, she is gorgeous. I am attracted to her for sure. Even before I worked with her, I was attracted to her. I always thought she was hot.

So how do you manage to hold yourself back?

Well that takes some doing ((laughs). But I manage.

Is it possible that your attraction develops into a strong relationship?

Who knows what tomorrow holds?

Earlier, your personality was more flamboyant. Why this sudden change?

I am an animated and flamboyant person. But it is being mistaken as brashness. So now I am trying to be more dignified. I am a normal youngster who loves to let his hair down at times and party.

But, I was tired of being misunderstood. It seemed I was ruffling too many feathers within the industry. People thought I was being too straightforward. It is then that I started moulding myself to fit in. But, that is all a garb-inside it is the same Ranveer.

Were you scared of Shatrughan Sinha when you were linked up with Sonakashi?

Sonakshi and I were never in a relationship.

Are you satisfied with your career so far? Hasn't it suddenly become crowded out there?

I want to do different kinds of roles. It may seem that with the new breed of actors-- Arjun, Varun, Siddharth, Ayushmann, Sushant-there is suddenly too much of a hustle to make space for oneself, but acting is subjective. And we motivate one another.

On the sets of Lootera, you shot yourself in the waist with a staple gun to experience the pain of a gunshot wound and your back suffered due to that. What made you do something that crazy?

It was not a staple gun. I had pinned paper clips and used to whack my waist to get a feel of that excruciating pain of being shot.

Initially, I had a niggling injury, which later snowballed into a serious back problem. And my undoing got me bedridden.

Coming back to Deepika. She has said that she would love to see Anushka and you get back together as a couple. Your comment.

(Thinks hard) I was not dating Anushka. Deepika must have meant a couple in reel, not in real life.

Yes, I became close to Anushka while we were shooting two movies back-to-back. But after that, both of us got busy with our own films and we drifted apart.

Deepika or Anushka- who is hotter?

(Shakes his head) I won't answer that question. Aren't we done?