TOI: Sharad Kelkar & Richa Chadha-Ram Leela

Ram-Leela is my take on a classic love story

Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his lead pair Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone tell us what went into the making of the upcoming film


Ram is a local village Romeo colourful and charming,yet a dramatic vagabond.Leela is an unbridled and passionate village Juliet.The only common factor between the two is their families hatred for each other.Set against the backdrop of guns and vengeance,the desi Romeo and Juliet fall in love and fight the world and their families to live their dreams.

BHANSALI ON RAM AND RANVEER SINGH

Ram is a brat who,though opposed to love and violence,is very noble.I wanted to create fire on screen,and for that Ranveer had to morph into this ultimate object of desire.Hes fantastic as Ram and his energy and enthusiasm gave the character depth.In fact,on several occasions,we spent a lot of time containing his energy.

ON LEELA AND DEEPIKA

Leela is a special character because I her after my mother and with that ca tain degree of grace and responsibility.beauty,fire,light she is teekhi! I Deepika to be all that she played this ter beautifully.

RANVEER ON RAM-LEELA

Being a part of this film makes you appreciative of the Gujarati culture the landscape,dance forms,food its so rich and diverse.It was great fun working on the film and I had to work hard to physically transform for it.In the end,all the effort was worth it.

ON BHANSALI

Sanjay is the most passionate director I have ever seen.He loves his actors and gave me all the space and support I needed.He will demand your blood,sweat,passion and energy,and in return deliver masterpiece cinema.

DEEPIKA ON RAM-LEELA

This has been my mos mentally,emotionally an broke down once on the journey was exciting and effort.Leela is the kind o challenges,but at the end acter is a lot like the real

.ON BHANSALI

Sanjay is a perfectionist He has a clear vision and oured that he thought I co

BEHIND THE SCENES

Ranveer enrolled for a 12-week drastic transformation programme with UK professional Lloyd Stevens and went on a strict protein diet,which involved eating every two hours.He got the required look in around six weeks.For his look in the song Tattad Tattad,Ranveer sports an envious body in a kedia.He had gone through 30 gruelling look tests before choosing the final one.During the shoot of the song Nagada Sang Dhol,Deepika experienced piercing pain in her back and shoulder,apart from severe swelling and bruises on her feet.While the crew was willing to postpone the shoot,the actress decided to continue shooting with a medical brace around her shoulder and back (which was strategically camouflaged by her outfit) to ensure there were no delays.Though it was Gulshan Devaiahs long-standing dream to work with Bhansali,he was extremely nervous to face him.Luckily,his theatre background prepared him to play the grey character he essays in the film.Richa Chadda,who also plays a pivotal part,was glad to reunite with Ranveer.The actors have previously worked together in theatre shows in Mumbai.She spent a considerable time learning Gujarati for her role.Actress Supriya Pathak was extremely excited to work with Bhansali for the very first time.Incidentally,her mother veteran actress Dina Pathak has previously worked with the filmmaker in Devdas.Priyanka Chopra,who shot for the song Ram Chahe Leela,managed to rehearse the complicated Indian choreography in just four days,thanks to her background as a trained classical dancer,impressing both her choreographer Vishnu Deva and director Bhansali.Two songs Nagada Sang Dhol and Tattad Tattad were shot on the same set,but it looks different in the tracks.Just before promotions began,Ranveer was hospitalised for dengue.As soon as he was discharged,he went all guns blazing to promote the film.Bhansali,who has also composed the music of the film,says,The music of Ram-Leela is a tribute to all the great music composers,singers and lyricists Ive grown up listening to,especially Vividh Bharati programme. Ranveer says that the kiss he shares with Deepika in the movie is one of Bollywood's finest intimate moments on screen.

RAM-LEELA TO GO INTERNATIONAL

The film has been selected to open the 13th edition of Marrakech International Film Festival on November 29.International filmmakers like Martin Scorsese,Patricia Clarkson (The Untouchables,Shutter Island) and Marion Cottilard (Inception,The Dark Knight Rises) are expected to attend the screening.Ram-Leela,produced by Eros International and Sanjay Leela Bhansali,releases November 15.

Compiled by Hiren Kotwani



DESIGNER ANJU MODI ON SLB

Anju Modi,who has created the costumes for Deepika and Priyanka,says,Its a different experience altogether working with Bhansali.He does not believe in restricting creativity and that makes it a dream for any designer.We were on the same page aesthetically and that helped create such beautiful costumes.