Trapped by Rocky Randhawa image, Ranveer Singh awaits his Animal moment

Ranveer Singh in a still from 83.

What Went Wrong

When it comes to Ranveer, this isn’t a problem exclusive to Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. Despite proving himself to be a versatile actor, he has to face the litmus test and the pressure of being seen as a ‘serious’ actor almost before every release. Initially, the problem was considered his ‘loud outfits’, which he admitted took the focus away from his acting skills. During his appearance on Koffee With Karan, he had said, “I felt like I wanted to not wear those clothes. I didn’t want people to talk about what I’m wearing. I want you to talk about my films, my acting, I want you to talk about me.”

He admitted that it was Deepika who had pointed this out to him. He said, “It was Deepika who pointed this out to me. We were having a chat, and she was like, ‘You know, you come across as this supremely confident person, but you’re actually underconfident’. I was like, ‘Acha?’ She was like, ‘You should stop distracting people from who you are with all these flashy clothes’. That resonated with me.”

Overexposure was also a key issue. At one point, Ranveer was everywhere — weddings, inaugurations, launches, cricket matches — and his persona became difficult to shake off when audiences saw him on the big screen. The infamous nude photoshoot also didn’t help his cause.

Ranveer Singh posed for a photoshoot in Paper magazine. (Photo: Instagram/Ranveer Singh)

And while this might have initially worked to build his “larger-than-life” brand — which is now helping him promote his snack label SuperU — it backfired when it came to his acting career. The mystery was gone. Even his most passionate performances — including Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani and Simmba — were dismissed by many because they couldn’t separate the artiste from the star who got all the attention.

Also, while Deepika and Ranveer became a brand — ‘Bollywood royalty,’ as Karan Johar called them — the over-imposition of them as a couple took some agency away from Ranveer. For a brief period, he was only seen as the ideal husband.

Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone got married in 2018. (Photo: Ranveer Singh/Instagram)

Comparison With Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal

If you closely examine the filmography of Ranveer Singh’s contemporaries, there’s no denying that he comes out with flying colours. Ranbir Kapoor may be at the top of his game now after delivering the massive hit Animal, but before Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s film, he had a string of underwhelming performances. His last major hit before Animal was Sanju (2018), followed by major disappointments like Shamshera and Brahmastra. Moreover, despite the success of Animal, none of his recent performances have truly resonated with audiences — his last widely acclaimed roles remain Tamasha (2015) and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016). However, the buzz around his upcoming films — Ramayana and Love And War — has certainly added to his growing clout.

When it comes to Vicky Kaushal, he did have a major hit this year with Chhaava, but his other recent releases — Bad Newz, Dunki, The Great Indian Family, and Zara Hatke Zara Bachke — failed to make a lasting impact. Still, he has managed to cultivate the image of a ‘serious’ actor, despite these lukewarm performances.

Ranveer, on the other hand, has also had his share of misses with films like Jayeshbhai Jordaar (2022) and Cirkus, but it’s impossible to overlook his compelling performances in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023) and 83 (2021). While his peers are often granted the benefit of the doubt even after flops, Ranveer, in contrast, is repeatedly made to prove himself.

Ranveer Singh faces constant comparison with Vicky Kaushal and Ranbir Kapoor.

‘Ek Chance Dedo’

After Farhan Akhtar announced Ranveer Singh as the next Don in Don 3, social media erupted with trolls, deeming Ranveer unworthy of stepping into Shah Rukh Khan’s shoes. Farhan himself came out in his support, saying, “He is a really good actor. He has proven himself to be a versatile actor. I am not worried about him playing lead in Don 3 and he shouldn’t be either. He is going to give a slamming performance.”

The backlash seemed to have affected Ranveer. But the actor humbly appealed to audiences to give him a chance, citing his solid body of work over the past decade. On Koffee With Karan, he said, “Ek chance dedo, 12-13 saal me thik thak hi kaam kiya hai maine, toh ek mauka toh banta hai (Give me one chance, I have worked decently for 12-13 years so I deserve one chance).”

Ranveer Singh in a still from Gully Boy.

The Low-Key Rebuild

Recently, the actor has gone quiet, no flamboyant appearances, fewer public events — a visible pullback from the limelight. It’s a move that has led to a slow build-up of curiosity around him once again. Apart from Don 3, he’s also leading a massive action- thriller Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, known for making Vicky Kaushal a star with Uri.

Ranveer has proven himself to be a director’s actor, a heartthrob, a charmer, an ideal family man, and a crowd-puller. All the audience needs to do now is love him back — to look past the glam and glitter — and see the artist within.