One of my favorite off-beat Bollywood stars has to be Ranvir Shorey (whom I’ve *rofl-ed* watching since his Channel [v] Veejay days!) he’s my buddy and a sweetheart (and often misunderstood) but always very, very funny. Here’s a chat we had, just for you :) xoxo

Ranvir Shorey

MM: Hi Ranvir! What’s been going on with you?

RS: The Blue Mug.

MM: When will we see you on the big screen next?

RS: There are many questions I don’t know the answers to. This is one of them. What a Producer does with their film after it’s complete, although a matter of great concern, is not really my business. Technically. Sad but true. So yes, there are a few films that are ready and awaiting release. I dunno when.

MM: How is daddy-hood treating you?

RS: Great! It’s an extremely rewarding experience. And hard work. I think one year of parenthood has changed me more than the earlier decade and a half managed to. I finally feel like I’m in my thirties, now!

Follow @ranvirshorey

MM: 5 Things you cannot live without?

RS: (Don’t like these kindsa questions!)

1. Friends
2. Family
3. Films
4. Food
5. Fun

MM: Your all time favorite film/scene/dialogue Hollywood or Bollywood?

RS: (And these!) There’s just too many. Can’t pick one. Sorry.

MM: Your personal favorite role you’re so glad you did and why?

RS: So far, that would be Mithya. I feel it’s very important for an actor to get directors that break their mold. Rajat Kapoor has done that for me. More than once.

MM: When you’re actually doing it, what’s scarier to do, theatre or film and why?

RS: Theatre is immediately scarier, obviously because of the pressure of a live audience and no re-takes. I belong around a camera.

MM: Who cuts your hair?

RS: (I love these kindsa questions!) Mostly, Ritesh at Aroma Garden. When I really need magic, I go to Sapna Bhavnani.

MM: Did you always want to act? What would you be doing if you weren’t doing this?

RS: Au contraire, never dreamt that I’d be an actor. A filmmaker, yes. I spent considerable amount of time working behind the camera, before being pushed in front of it by my friends at Channel [v] at that time. And I don’t just mean the token ADing before leaping into the ‘struggle’. So yes, I guess if not acting, I’d go back to ADing or something. Sadly, this is all I know.

MM: You blog too don’t you?

RS: That’s an uncomfortable question. Yes I started to blog occasionally, but only for the want of being able to get into the habit of writing. I do want to be able to write a script, you know. But learning a new discipline can be quite hard. Even for an actor. So right now I’m just about managing Twitter.

MM: Your favorite all-time book?

RS: Joseph Heller’s Catch 22 remains the book that has mesmerized me the most. Yet.

MM: What are Bollywood peeps really like? Best/Worst costars?

RS: Ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Whether of their own making or not is the question. ‘Cause some of us are pretty insane! Most of them are regular peeps. Vinay Pathak is easily my favourite. Ease is quite important for this job, and Vinay brings that into any project for me. Probably because we’re friends & we’ve been doing this together for so long.

Ranvir Shorey

MM: What’s the one thing you wish more people knew about you?

RS: I have remained a non-violent person all my life. Sometimes not even out of choice.

MM: What three words describe you best?

RS: Well meaning fool.

MM: What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you on set?

RS: Finding out that we can’t go home because our cars are underwater along with the streets on 26 July, 2005. That was surreal. I’ve never seen Mumbai like that, and I’ve lived here all my life. It was like a scene from an apocalyptic disaster movie! We finally has to spend the night in the studio.

Ranvir Shorey

MM: Your comic timing is impeccable, what’s your favorite joke?

RS: My favorite joke is the one I haven’t heard yet. I hate it when I hear a joke that I’ve already heard! As does everyone I imagine. But here goes:

A baba, in town from the mountains in winter, ends up with a prostitute at night. The next morning as he’s about to leave, she gets up in bed and asks “Baba…Paise..?!” He turns around and says “Arre pagli, tujhse thodehi loonga!”

MM: What three words describe MissMalini best? :)

RS: Informed. Intelligent. In-demand!

MM: Yay! When did you know Konkona was the girl for you? How did you propose?

RS: We grew close together and became good friends first. Then one day it just happened. A couple of years down the line, I took her for a holiday and popped the ring and the champagne. Yes, champagne. I’m that cliched as a romantic.

Ranvir Shorey

MM: Tell me one thing we’d never guess about Konkana!

RS: She loves music jam sessions and even plays a bit of the guitar!

MM: A message to your fans…

RS: A sincere thank you for all your support. Love & Respect.

MM: And now a few Questions and Comments from your Facebook/Twitter fans! (answer whichever you want to!)

@ranvirshorey

MM: @Star_Khadija: Question for Ranvi “Where do you get your wit from?”

RS: The inspiration is divine ;)

Charla Manohar: If he would ever like to do a full action movie and whom he would love to have at co-stars? I think he will be very good in an action movie…

RS: Yes I’m trying to do more action films, but beggars don’t get choices!

@drav_18: He played Ugly in Ugly aur Pagli. Does he really think he’s ugly?

RS: Let’s just say I know I’m no James Dean.

@sagarraha: I want to ask him. “What would be his dream role?”

RS: I don’t have any dream roles. I can never tell unless I read the script if I like the part or not.

@viraal: Ask him if he would be open to do a gay role in a movie *LOL*.

RS: That’s exactly why I haven’t yet. The LOL. Most of the gay parts going around are in the cheap *LOL* area. If the part has substance I’d take it up.

@ssoloveme: Why did he agree to do the movie Chandni CHown to China? Seriously WHY?

RS: It had a good script, a good director, a good part and was the biggest Hindi film made at the time. I would do something like that again.

MM: Thank you for taking out the time to chat with me Ranvir, you’re the bestest! xoxo