Peshwa Bajirao sneaked into a packed Chandan Cinema on Sunday evening just when “Malhari“ began to play.Wearing a black hoodie, his mooch shaved off and no shendi to flaunt, he looked nothing like the warrior hero from the film, a look he'd been carrying for the past year-and-a-half. Recalling the first time he heard the song, the actor says, “I had just got my mundan done when Bhansali sir called me to the recording studio to check out my bald avatar. He put on “Malhari“ for me and I just got up and started dancing, telling him the beats were even faster than Ram Leela's 'Tatad tatad',“ Ranveer reminisces, breaking into his signature step while speaking.

He's just been through the darkest phase of his life. He hurt his shoulder early in the shoot and couldn't move his arm even an inch higher than shoulder level for the longest time. “When Kashi comes to Shaniwarwada with our newborn, I couldn't even hold my prosthetic child in my arms. I had just jumped out of bed and my shoulder was as flat as a chapati. The pain was excruciating but it's worth it today given all the praise that is flooding in,“ he smiles, pointing out that he also lost big money from endorsements, films and TV shows because no one wanted a bald guy with a twirling moustache.

On Monday night, he partied with Arjun and Anil Kapoor, who were thrilled to see him clean-shaven and suited up after months. “Arjun told me, 'Baba, I saw the making of the Malhari video, you went ballistic!' Anil Kapoor told me I was India's answer to Russell Crowe from Gladiator. It's like an avalanche of praises!“ he exults.

Another overwhelming reaction was holding his mom in his arms while she sobbed for half-an-hour. “She doesn't like films in which I die,“ he explains, adding that his father was upset that the project had affected his health, and taken up too much of his time. “But when he watched the movie he agreed that it had been worth it.“

The film released with Shah Rukh Khan's Dilwale on Friday and has been holding stead. “We got in some good numbers over the first weekend, internationally too, and have passed the Monday test with flying colours,“ he beams. But there are no plans to rest on his laurels.

There's talk of him stepping into Sanjay Dutt's shoes for the remake of Subhash Ghai's 1993 action-thriller Khalnayak. “The day the Bajirao shoot got over, I asked Mr Bhansali when we were shooting again, where I should report. The idea is to keep growing as an actor. I want to sustain this momentum with more evolved, braver choices,“ he insists.

Taking a moment to admit that he has not met Bhansali since the release to officially discuss the way forward, he says that they share a special equation. “I hope and pray that I am the leading man in his next film and all his coming films,“ says Ranveer. “I've just done two films, back-to-back with him and spent a considerable part of the last five years with him. In a recent interview he admitted I have become his muse... His expression. I am waiting for him to call me for Khalnayak. I am ready. After Bajirao, I think I have earned it.“

Come September, and Ranveer Singh in full armour, sword in one hand and shield in the other, will ride into the battle field on a white stallion. For the next two months, he will be shooting all the war sequences for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period romance, Bajirao Mastani. There will be plenty of sword fighting and physical combat but Ranveer is confident that his shoulder will hold up.
On April 3, the 30-year-old actor had quietly checked into the Hinduja Clinic to fix the shoulder he had injured, when he had fallen off a horse, while shooting an action sequence in Jaipur. Post the surgery he was advised complete rest for three weeks and two months of physiotherapy. If he was spotted painting the town red with a sling around his neck, promoting Zoya Akhtar's upcoming film, Dil Dhadakne Do, it's because, as he says, “Mard ko dard nahin hota“ and “Badi badi filmon mein aisi chhoti chhoti baatein hoti rehti hain.“

In June, Ranveer was back on the sets in Mumbai, in his Bajirao avatar, but he started slow with dialogue heavy scenes. With a smile, he'd played down his injury, saying, “It's a part-and-parcel of the profession. I'm going about my rehabilitation aggressively and am looking forward to getting back on the set.“

Bajirao Mastani is scheduled for a Christmas release and despite the intense pain, Ranveer has been shooting 12-18 hours a day. He even moved out of his family home (Mirror, June 24) into a rented apartment closer to the sets. This was to cut down on travel and avoid missing out on physio sessions.

“I have been treated like an athlete. The physiotherapy programme I've been assigned is the same as one of a professional sportsman,“ Ranveer told Mirror. “It's three-long hours every day. An hour in the morning, followed by an hour right in the middle of my shoot and an hour post-wrap up.“

And all his diligence has definitely paid off. “Now I'm fighting fit. I'll say that my recovery has been five times faster than that of a normal person,“ he smiles.

The unit will be shooting around-the-clock till November. “There are two units filming day and night. Deepika Padukone as Mastani has been filming with one. After she finishes, the unit starts prepping for Ranveer. He has been canning shots with both the units all through August. It's been a gruelling schedule for him but Ranveer never complains,“ informs a source from the film set.

Priyanka Chopra plays his first wife, Kashibai and will be joining Ranveer by September-end for some high drama. “Everybody only sees the energetic Ranveer. Behind all the jumping around, is a hardworking person who goes all out for each shot. I've played his girlfriend, sister and now, wife for reel and have seen him in all his avatars. His commitment to the job is applause worthy. Sanjay sir couldn't have asked for a better Bajirao!“