Bollywood’s livewire Ranveer Singh was at his candid best at the launch of Befikre’s song Khulke Dulke, along with Vaani Kapoor. Unnati Joshi reports
To be around Ranveer Singh is to be sucked into a tornado. His vigour isn’t for the faint-hearted.
The movie was shot in the city of romance. Talking about Paris, Ranveer said, “Paris is the third character in the film. I could talk to you day and night about this magical place. The first time I ever faced a film camera was in Paris. I was 21-year-old and I was called to be part of a performance troop for a festival hosted by the city. Saroj ji was also a part of it and I have a very special connection with Paris. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it is my most special movie. Because it’s the directorial of somebody who is extremely special to me, Aditya Chopra, my mentor. We had a blast. For me, it was like a holiday film, I enjoyed Paris perhaps more than anybody. Since I have the cushiest job, I had a great experience.”
Classic chairs, a triangular ramp, striking lights overhead and the nip in the air. All thanks to the French embassy’s efforts at promoting a cultural alliance.
Ranveer seemed engrossed with the questions while Vaani was enjoying the atmosphere. When asked about her experience, she promptly said, “Unlike Ranveer Singh, I had to work a lot to play this character and prove my worth. I had a wonderful experience. I never thought my director, Aditya Chopra, would be so easy to work with. I was very comfortable and wasn’t afraid to approach him. I would go and ask him the same questions again and again and he would answer with a lot of patience. For me, it was a fun experience because I genuinely felt carefree and at peace while shooting. I was carefree because I knew no one was judging or testing me.” She couldn’t even finish when Ranveer jumped in and said, “Yes, Aditya Chopra is a legend. He is the hardest task master. He has got a soft spot for just a handful of people in his life. If I ask him a question over and over again, he will be like ‘eh Ranveer…can you please..ah..’”
“He is one of the most absorbing human being I have ever collaborated with in my life. I really hope and pray to god that he directs more often and he directs like two films a year and I am the lead in all of them and all of them all are shot in Paris. So I can live in fancy apartments there and walk across the road to the fancy restaurants where the hostesses have a huge crush on me. I play to my exotic vibe. I always have and I always will be,” he added.
Talking about his character in the film, Ranveer said, “You know one would imagine that a film like this which is a rom-com should be easy to work in and within but taking from what my colleague said very recently, sometimes these films are more difficult to work in. Sometimes in period film when you have distinctive character and all these traits are there for you, it’s easy to get into those characters. Here, you have to pour a lot of your own personality and pray to God that it is entertaining. You will see a lot of me in Dharam.”
The duo walked the ramp for Divani at Embassy of France. Saluting the spirit of being carefree, Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor released the song Khulke Dulke. Their presence created a frisson of excitement. It is a high-octane Punjabi wedding song and Ranveer could no longer avoid the questions on his marriage, “My wedding would be like a non-stop party. I just want people to have a blast. I would like to have my wedding on an island, if I can afford it by then. It would be a trance party where everybody is tripping out and shouting, ‘Oh my God it’s his last day, let’s party,’”he said laughing out loud.
Photo: Pankaj Kumar