A star on whom Bollywood is betting super-stardom very soon – that’s Ranbir Kapoor for you. Eight years in the business, many hits, a few flops, and some fabulous performances later, Ranbir stays on to be as grounded as ever. For someone who knows reality when it comes to the world of films, courtesy the pedigree that he comes from – Ranbir has managed to build a strong persona for himself. So much that while a lot is at stake for Bombay Velvet, he is maintaining a cool stance with no false word whatsoever. We chatted with this ‘next big thing’!
Finally a film in Bombay Velvet which takes you away from the ‘coming of age’ genre.
Yeah, this character is very unlike what I have done and what I am. It is very difficult to portray. I have an image of a ‘coming of age’ boy. I have done so many of these that only Harry Potter is left to portray (smiles). So for this, I had to actually offer myself for the part since Anurag hadn’t thought of me for it. So I called up Anurag and told him that since I like the character and the story, I would like to do it. Of course I knew that superficial things like hair, clothes, look etc. would be taken care of as that is the duty of an actor. What mattered was for me to get the character’s depth and understanding; that was tough.
To get that right, Anurag must have been certainly required on your side?
Absolutely. Anurag has written the characters and the dynamics between characters in an altogether new way. It is a different world and you need to understand that well. I know films like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Wake Up Sid. However, in films like Bombay Velvet or Rockstar, I need specific instructions from the director. Here for Bombay Velvet, Anurag is the artist and I am the instrument. Baja woh raha hai, and I mean it and not in a vulgar way (laughs).
Well, well, well, who doesn’t love this boy?!