After wrapping up his portions as the older version of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘super villain’ in their upcoming period romance, the actor braces up to showcase his ‘gentler’ side
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 13, 2017)

On Tuesday, Ranveer Singh went live online to document a “very significant moment”. In the video, a jittery Ranveer, with a pair of scissors in his hands, is heard saying, “Whenever I am anxious, I listen to my comfort song, “Urvashi… Urvashi” and Prabhu Dheva sir manages to calm me.” It so happened that the actor was bracing himself for the imminent break-up with his beard that he had nurtured for one year for his ‘super villain’ turn in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming romance-drama, Padmavati as Alauddin Khilji.

While he twirled the longest handlebar that he had, self admittedly, ever acquired, his hairdresser-friend Darshan Yeolekar oversaw the cutting. “It’s a tough call but for a greater good,” he laughed.

Ranveer, who was applauded for shaving his head (that cost him several brand endorsements), and shooting overtime for his turn as Peshwa Bajirao in Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani in 2015, had been growing his hair again, to shoulder-length this time, and working on his look for the highly-anticipated Khilji.

Mirror has now learnt that the ceremonial hair-cutting took place as Ranveer will now step into the role of the younger Khilji, for which he starts shooting this week. “He needs to come across as visually different from the older Khilji. His beard is replaced by stubble. There will also be other crucial changes to make him look younger and, to some extent, gentler,” a source close to the development told Mirror, adding that the film will also touch upon other crucial aspects of Khilji’s life.

Padmavati, set for a Christmas release this year, kicked off at a lavishly erected set at Film City late last year with Shahid Kapoor, who plays Raja Rawal Ratan Singh, and Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmini, while Ranveer joined in later. While Shahid is in the US currently with wife Mira and daughter Misha, till later this month, Ranveer recently wrapped up his portions as the older Khilji. “Since Bhansali wanted Ranveer to become a one-of-a-kind super villain, he grew a thick beard, which he was seen sporting at recent public appearances too. He also underwent rigorous physical training to bulk up and look like a menacing, ruthless warrior and conqueror,” a source close to the actor told Mirror, adding that he will continue to report to work from his Goregaon residence, which he had purchased back in 2015 to stay closer to the sets of Bajirao Mastani, which was filmed at the same studio.