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New Delhi
January 30, 2018
With menacing eyes, eccentric mannerisms and powerful acting, Ranveer Singh
has upped his own ante as Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khilji in "Padmaavat". But the
actor says it's a character whose ambitions and greed he does not relate to,
even though he has his eyes on building a vast legacy of filmography to be proud
of.
After captivating cine-goers with his powerful performance in films like
"Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela", "Bajirao Mastani" and the latest "Padmaavat",
actor Ranveer Singh is set to dive into projects that are as different as chalk
and cheese. There's "Gully Boy", "Simmba" and a biopic on India's 1983 Cricket
World Cup victory.
"I have a very large vision for myself, my body of work, my career. I hope to
build a vast legacy with a filmography which I can be proud of when I am done. I
want to look back and feel like I made a significant contribution to the art and
yes, keep pushing the envelope and keep exploring to things that have not been
done before," Ranveer told IANS over phone from Mumbai.
With Khilji, Ranveer has achieved that. Where did the inspiration for his
eccentric antics in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial come from?
"There's no references (for the character) as such and it definitely didn't come
from within. I cannot really relate to Alauddin Khilji at any level. I am not as
ambitious, as greedy and as manipulative," Ranveer said.
However, the actor, 32, believes "there's no end to what you can achieve".
"The more work I do, I realise how much I can do because it is limitless. So, I
hope to keep going," he added.
Ranveer made his acting debut in 2010 with "Band Baajaa Baaraat", and by his own
admission, he has "grown leaps and bounds as an artiste" ever since.
"I think the past seven and a half years have been very solid. It has been an
amazing journey from 'Band Baaja Baaraat' to 'Padmaavat'. I have learnt a lot. I
have been able to showcase my versatility and I have been able to learn and work
with very different styles," he said.
Wasn't it a risk to play an anti-hero?
"It was a huge risk. I was very apprehensive about taking the risk but Bhansali
was very persistent in his pursuit of me and he is the one who convinced me that
I would be able to pull it off. I went with his conviction. I can never say no
to Bhansali, given the amount he has contributed to my career and to me as an
artiste.
"Once I committed, I put my everything into it. But, yes, initially there were
apprehensions," said Ranveer, who found the character "mentally, physically and
emotionally" draining.
The movie was mired in a row as protests erupted over alleged distortion of
facts. After the film released following a long-stretched battle, reviews
pointed out at how Khilji's character has been demonised.
"As an actor, I just have to stick to the character that I find in the script,"
Ranveer justified, saying he used the film's bound script "as my textbook and my
bible" to create a character around it.
Ranveer says he can always choose to add to the script from the "research and
homework" he does during the prep phase, but his job as an actor is to do
justice to the character.
Excited about his upcoming slate of films, Ranveer said: "I am working with
films and filmmakers who are very different from each other. Zoya Akhtar, Rohit
Shetty and Kabir Khan... It is again a very good opportunity to showcase my
versatility... In my own estimation, I am attracted towards actors who are able
to transform themselves with each character.
"I always hope to be that way. I always endeavour to be that way."
By Durga Chakravarty