Just over a year into the industry and Ranveer Singh is acquiring all sorts of image — for one, that of a Casanova. He’s been constantly linked to two of his co-actors, Anushka Sharma and Sonakshi Sinha. Ask him if he is a ladies’ man and he turns coy, “Ladies’ man? Are you serious?” He goes on to explain, “Honestly, in real life, I am very different from what I play in my movies. I am not a Casanova. I don’t know why people for some reason think that the real and the reel me are the same. Of course, in college I think everyone has dated girls and so have I—on occasions, even two. But I am not like that anymore. I am very shareef (virtuous).”
He clearly reserves his warmest affection for Anushka, his partner in 'Band Baaja Baaraat' (BBB), a surprise hit which propelled both Anushka and Ranveer into the forefront of overnight fame. “Anushka and I are buddies. We came together when neither of us had any real friends in this industry. Now, we hang out together, go for movies and spend time chatting on anything under the sun. I find her attractive and I have said that before. But if you ask me if we are in a relationship, I will have to disappoint you by saying no.”
Charming con man
His second film, Ladies vs Ricky Bahl is touted as the next big thing from the Yash Raj stable. For starters, it brings the successful pair of Ranveer and Anushka together with both playing charming con artists who try to outdo one another. Ranveer is aware of the expectations but feels helpless to curb them, “With Band Baaja Baaraat, there was zero expectation. I hadn’t done any film before that and nobody knew what to expect from me. This time, I am feeling the jitters because I want to live up to the expectations.”
A rank outsider, Ranveer says his year-old stint has been life-altering. “I have grown both personally and professionally. I have learnt from my colleagues and the biggest thing is that I have realised acting is what I want to do.” On the downside, he grumbles, “I don’t get time to spend with my family.” Now, when he steps out, he is treated like a star and mobbed at hotels and malls.
“Sometimes, you do feel stressed and curse yourself for ending up doing this. But when people greet you with so much affection, you realise it’s worth it. But I don’t know what it is — it’s certainly not stardom, it’s more like people’s love towards you.”
Shedding the Delhi-boy image
Talking of family, one of the most disturbing rumours for the young actor has been that his father funded BBB to launch him. His family — and his dad, in particular — were distressed by such gossip. He says uncomfortably: “Just tell me one thing, why would a top production house like Yash Raj take money from my father to launch me? Doesn’t it sound ridiculous to you?” He insists that this is a merit-based industry and that he was cast in BBB solely on account of his talent. “My success proves that outsiders can try their luck in Bollywood. Look at Shah Rukh Khan, he had no godfather.”
Ranveer’s Delhi boy act in BBB endeared him to the fastidious critics and audiences alike. His character in Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, too, is from Delhi and speaks in the typical accent. Clearly, Ranveer is in no mood to shed that image. “I worked very hard to get the Delhi accent. People thought I am actually from Delhi. I think the real triumph for an actor is when he can convince people with his acting.”