Completing a decade in Bollywood, Ranveer Singh calls his journey ‘beyond my wildest imagination’
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 10, 2020)

Exactly a decade back, when he debuted with Band Baaja Baaraat in 2010, not many would have foreseen that actor Ranveer Singh would go on to establish himself as a top bona fide Bollywood star. Thanks to his disparate parts in films such as Lootera (2013), Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram-Leela (2013), Bajirao Mastani (2015), Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), Padmaavat (2018), Simmba (2018) and Gully Boy (2019), the 35-year-old has clearly cemented his position in the industry. “I want to be remembered as a thorough entertainer and a versatile actor, whose body of work constitutes some of the best cinema of our country,” says Singh. Excerpts from an interview:

How do you look back at your journey till now? Any special milestones?
The biggest milestone — and an unforgettable moment — has to be when I got my first film. Even now, I get goosebumps when I think about it. For somebody like me, who comes from the kind of background that I do, to get such a big break was beyond my wildest imagination. It’s the stuff dreams are made of. After that incredible twist of fate, it’s been a journey of learning, growing and evolving as a performer, and a public figure. From the first Friday, my journey has been beyond my wildest dreams. I’m extremely grateful for each and every opportunity.

Initially, you faced a number of rejections, too, as recounted by makers such as Anurag Kashyap and Nikkhil Advani. How do you look at those days?
My struggle period wasn’t easy at all. Recession was going on, so the film business wasn’t very prolific. Good opportunities were hard to come by. We didn’t have any of the web, or OTT platforms. For nearly 3.5 years, I was groping in the dark, attempting to get a foot in the door, not knowing whether it’ll ever happen. I was hungry and foolish but persistent. I nearly debuted with a small part in Patiala House (2011) and almost did small budget films that Anurag was, in a way, affiliated with. Those tales are surely memoir-worthy.

How would you define your brand of cinema today? What do you want to leave behind as legacy?
I’d like to stand for quality entertainment, and wouldn’t like to tag myself, or define my brand of cinema as that would limit it. As I gather more experience, I realise performance, art and cinema don’t have any fixed boundaries as possibilities are limitless. I strive to be malleable, formless, mercurial, and also be able to transform myself into different people. Vis-à-vis legacy, I have some tall ambitions but I put in the hard work every day. I want to make a contribution to the art [of films], and inspire other artists in the same way that my seniors inspired me. I’d like my brand to stand for pursuit of excellence.

At this stage, do you see any similarity or difference in the way you approach performances?
I must admit when I saw Jayeshbhai Jordaar (JBJ), I felt I was watching a seasoned performer. There’s a world of a difference from my first film to now. In my first film, I didn’t know the ABC of the process. I was so raw that I wonder how I got through that process effectively, and successfully. I was clueless, so I learnt on the job. But when I watch JBJ, I observe that all my tools as an actor are sharpened and I’m able to use them at will. Still, I’ll always be a student of the craft. I always seek to acquire more skill and experience, so that I continuously evolve.

On being a people’s person/star:
My mentor, filmmaker Aditya Chopra, observed that my people skills were good and encouraged me to engage with them. Social media lets us engage with people like never before. I love to exchange energies with people, so when they show me love, I feel compelled to give that love back multiple times.

On ‘unique’ sartorial choices:
Call it a coincidence that when I started becoming more authentic in my personal style choices, it apparently became a cultural moment for Indian fashion. I do it for my own amusement. Playing ‘dress-up’ is fun. I’m attracted to unique expressions in style.