Ranveer Singh on rumoured girlfriend Deepika and his evolution as an actor

Working with Zoya Akhtar for the first time, Ranveer Singh gives us an insight into the director’s attention to detail.

“Zoya works so closely with colours. And it might look normal but it’s all by specific design. She wanted that haircut and those types of clothes, that colour palette at the bar… She’s very specific.”

He created waves with brilliant and overpowering energy onscreen in ‘Band Baaja Baaraat’. But, Ranveer says he is not the same actor today. “I am almost a completely different actor since ‘Band Baaja Baaraat’. For the film, I was over rehearsed and my directors used to complain that I would be so prepared to the sets, that it was difficult to change anything that they wanted to change. So, I used to be too rigid and it was while doing ‘Ram-Leela’ that I learnt to adapt because Sanjay Leela Bhansali does not execute, but creates. So, I learnt to be instinctive and spontaneous.”

Going against his natural persona, Ranveer Singh surprised fans and critics when he beautifully portrayed the subtle role of Varun in the love story Lootera. “Lootera was a big turning point for me because it was very challenging. I had never attempted a part like that in my entire life.”

Without naming any of them, Ranveer honestly admits that he has approached work in the past, which may have not been creatively satisfying. “I have also done films that didn’t challenge me and I felt I was terrible. Just the fact that it didn’t teach me anything was a waste. What was the point if it didn’t evolve my craft? I hope I am able to avoid doing work that doesn’t contribute to my growth as an artist,” says the actor.

Having romanced beauties including Anushka Sharma, Deepika Padukone and Sonakshi Sinha onscreen, Ranveer reveals that it is in fact rumoured girlfriend Deepika Padukone’s face that he loves best on the big screen. “She has big eyes and a pretty face. She has a typical cinema girl’s face and I love to watch her onscreen,” said Ranveer.

But, the actor is also sure to praise all his onscreen ladyloves. “I learn from all my leading ladies. They’re all very solid actors… each one of them brings something different to the table. And they’re all fantastic.”

While Ranbir Kapoor faced quite a bad run at the box office with regard to period film, ‘Bombay Velvet’, Ranveer says he is not worried about his next project, ‘Bajirao Mastani’, which is also a period film. “They’re two completely different films – different periods, different directors, different actors.” He further adds, “I liked ‘Bombay Velvet’ personally because I thought there were some fine performances and stunning film craft.”

And of course, talking about his much-loved wild infectious spirit, the actor says, he never thought of himself as an energetic person. “I never thought that I have some extra energy, it’s just now that I’m so-called famous, people write about me. But this is the same thing my teachers used to write in my report cards – Energetic, vivacious, gregarious… these were the types of adjectives they used to use.”

“I’ve always been like this. I think what translates as energy is this kind of zest I have for everything that I do. I believe we have one life and there’s too little time and too many things that I want to do. So, I try to do as much as I can. I do believe that life comes with no guarantees. So, everything I do, I treat it as my last – this film, this shot, this live performance… I put everything into it and I guess that translates as energy.”

“I feel like I need to be positive and happy, so I can spread it because I feel that is my purpose in life. So, bad days rarely happen to me. I do get affected but I try and get over it as soon as possible. I have too many things in life to be thankful for. So, I don’t have a reason to be sad or complain. I tend to count my blessings and of course, I eat a lot of chocolates,” says Ranveer.