Maneesh understands me best

Back with his second release after a year’s gap, actor Ranveer Singh, has once again wowed the audience with his latest film Ladies vs Ricky Bahl

Taniya Talukdar

taniya.t@postnoon.com

 

It was in 2010 December when Yashraj Films introduced Ranveer Singh to audiences across the world. It was a dream debut for the talented actor in Band Baaja Baaraat. His Delhi-based character called Bittu Sharma won the hearts of millions and he became an overnight success. Since then the actor has pretty much remained in the news and it was only recently that his second film Ladies vs Ricky Bahl was released.

“I feel on top of the world and I was hoping for the best as the movie has shaped up fantastically. Maneesh has worked very hard on the film and has made an ex­tremely engaging and engrossing product,” shares Ranveer about the film. Though his acting prowess has been much spoken about, Ranveer himself isn’t so confident about it, “I hate my performances, I am over critical of them, though I receive positive response from others,” admits the honest actor timidly.

Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl is about a charming conman who dupes women for a living. “The character I play in the film identifies his target in a particular city and appears in front of them in an avatar that the woman finds attractive,” explains Ranveer. In order to do justice to his role as a conman Ranveer had to don different get-ups as he moved across different cities in his various avatars. “For me it was important to break the image that I had created in my first film,” says Ranveer, going on to add, “Not everyone believed that I could speak English but in LVRB, I got to play this suave businessman and that did away with that image. The film gave me a platter of different things to do; I got to play four to five characters in the film and that is what attracted me the most.”

While the script is definitely important for any actor to sign a film, excitement is what keeps most of them going and Ranveer is no exception to the rule. “Excitement definitely works for me. When I did Band Baaja Baaraat, I had nothing to lose and hence there was no pressure. Post its success, there is a question of credibility and people expect a certain quality of work from me,” offers Ranveer.

It is interesting that the man behind the actor’s debut success also happens to be the one behind his second release. Director Maneesh Sharma is one person with whom Ranveer shares a great equation. Talking about his experience, Ranveer exclaims, “It was amazing!” He goes on to add, “No one understands me better as an actor than him. I am almost transparent to him. He knows my potential as an actor and I try to learn from him and the best comes out from us. He happens to be my first and second director and now I understand his instructions and he knows how to handle me. We share a wonderful relationship and I give full credit to him as he is good with his actors and is a stickler for perfection.”

With just two releases in one full year, Ranveer does come across as quite a choosy actor to which he replies, “I am being extra careful. I am here for the long run and want to play long term. I am conscious of my career graph, which I am working on meticulously. I want to build a good body of work. I don’t want to sign big films just because I have that option. A role has to hit me in my gut only then will I do it.”

Though news is rife that Ranveer is all set to direct a film, quiz him about it and pat comes the reply, “The issue was blown out of proportion. The script I am working on is far from ready. I had just narrated it to a few industry professionals and they liked it. I will write it and be part of the creative process. It’s an idea that I have had for three years now. I really can’t direct a film right now as I am too caught up with acting.”

Amongst many other things, Ranveer has also been criticised for his arrogant behaviour. Ask him about it and the actor defends himself saying, “There has been no change in my attitude. If anything, I have become much more humble. The kind of adulation that has come my way is unprecedented and I consider myself lucky. I am doing what I love for a living, so there is no reason for me to change my attitude. I am thankful to God for that. Tabloids that need readership write negative things about me. I have no PR person working for me, instead I prefer to focus on work. I don’t have time for image building. People can write what they want.”

Category: Bollywood