Ranveer Singh: My aim is to do films that have longevity

Agencies
May 6, 2018

New Delhi, May 6: Bringing versatility with every film has been Ranveer Singh’s aim from the beginning as the actor believes in always surprising the audience with his work. For the 32-year-old actor, it is essential to be a versatile performer and growing up, he has aspired to have a “chameleon-like quality”.

“You watch one film of an actor and then the other one and you can’t believe it is the same person… I used to find that very fascinating. Actors who have that chameleon-like quality, they are able to be anything. I have always aspired to be like that,” Ranveer said.

This outlook somehow reflects in the choice of films the actor makes. Within a year, in 2013, Ranveer played a doe-eyed conman in Lootera and did a complete switch as a larger-than-life passionate lover in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Goliyon ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela. Two years later, the actor was seen playing a rich happy-go-lucky brat in Dil Dhadakne Do and embraced the armour of a fearless Maratha warrior in Bajirao Mastani.

His roles in upcoming films are as stark as they come – he has turned rapper for Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy and a cop in the Rohit Shetty-directed Simmba.

“For me, it is important to keep switching it off drastically for myself and for my audience. I want audience to expect the unexpected. As an audience, it is very exciting to have this thought that what will this performer do next.  That is something I aspire to have for myself. It is a constant endeavour to be a versatile performer,” he said.

This year, Ranveer’s box office report card boasts of the blockbuster Padmaavatand the actor says, both good content and commercial success matter to him.

The actor says he is glad that he is considered a “good actor”, who is a part of some “memorable films”. “There is a sense of responsibility that comes with it (success), that is without having an inflated or delusional sense of self-importance. Being in the position that I am in, it comes with a certain level of responsibility, what kind of cinema I am choosing to be part of. My endeavour is to do films that have the best of both the worlds…”

Ranveer says his aim is to do films that have “longevity”.

“I am not here to do films that come and go and score just big numbers but have absolutely no lasting memory. So the attempt is to do films that can grow and develop the film industry, that can do well for the commerce side of things and yet be world-class.”

The actor believes the future of Hindi cinema is in good hands as the younger generation are finding interesting stories to tell. Ranveer feels blessed to be working with some of the finest filmmakers like Bhansali, Zoya, Rohit and Kabir Khan. “… A lot of it is something that I have earned, like the distinction of being a three-time Bhansali (films’) leading man, two-time leading hero in Zoya’s films and to be collaborating with Rohit and Kabir for the first time.”

At a time when language is not a barrier and cinema is travelling across the globe, Ranveer hopes to be a part of a wave that takes Indian content globally.

“I want material that has global appeal to be produced in India. I think we have the potential to do it. I have been interacting with new-age filmmakers who have a different vision,” he added.

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News Network
April 6,2020

New Delhi, April 6: Acknowledging on being scared and talking of not seeing his family for three weeks, actor Salman Khan along with nephew Nirvaan on Sunday shared their lockdown experience in a video message.

The 54-year-old star, without disclosing where the actor actually is, shared a video message on Twitter along with his brother Sohail Khan's son, Nirvaan.

Salman began the one-minute and 26-seconds long video, by saying: "We came here for a few days and now we're stuck and scared"

The 'Bharat' actor then introduced Nirvaan and asked him "How long has it been since you saw your father?", to which Nirvaan replied, "It must have been three weeks."

"I have not seen my father for three weeks. We are here and he is alone at home," Salman added.

The 'Sultan' actor then asks the boy: "You remember the film dialogue, 'the one who got scared, died.' It does not apply here in this situation. We are scared and bravely we admit that we are scared. Please don't be brave in this situation."

Nirvaan also further requested everybody to stay safe and maintain social-distance.

"I think it's better for everyone to stay home, avoid contact and I think the longer we stay indoors the faster this ends," he added.

The 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' star concluded the video by saying: "The one who got afraid saved himself and lives of others around him. Moral of the story, 'We're all scared'."

Urging people to take the government's advisory of self-isolation seriously amid the rising cases of coronavirus in the country, the megastar had earlier shared a video message for fans. 

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News Network
June 16,2020

Mumbai, Jun 16: Filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee remembers Sushant Singh Rajput as a dance loving 'chhokra' from an engineering college who, having made it in Bollywood, was “enthused, sincere and totally focused” on his craft.

Banerjeee said the actor always had “a book or two” with him and took pride in the fact that he had an “inner intellectual life away from the shallower aspects of showbiz”.

Rajput was found dead in his Bandra apartment on Sunday at the age of 34, leaving his friends, colleagues and collaborators in a state of shock.

The Patna-born actor and the director worked together in 2015 film "Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!" when Rajput was a relative newcomer in the industry. Banerjee says it was Rajput's vulnerability and willingness to do different that made him stand out for the role.

In an interview with news agency, the filmmaker looks back at Rajput's sincerity, his love for science and astronomy and how an outsider has to work harder than a "mediocre, unmotivated and entitled establishment elite" to succeed in Bollywood.

Excerpts:

You worked with Sushant when he was less than two-year-old in the film industry. What struck you the most in him to cast as Detective Byomkesh Bakshy?

Banerjee: His vulnerability and intensity and the ambition to do different things than the usual Bollywood stuff.

What were your memories of Sushant- the actor and the person?

Banerjee: As an actor he would tense himself up for the scene and then completely plunge in take after take. He would put a lot of value on preparation. He would be up the previous night of the shoot, reading the scene and making notes and land up on the sets all raring to go.

He would be on, ready and give his hundred per cent throughout the shoot of Byomkesh - no matter how hard or long the day. The unit did not really have to worry about him - considering he was the star. That's what I remember - a total pro, enthused, sincere and totally focused.

As a person, he seemed to me a happy dance loving 'chhokra' from an engineering college who had made it in showbiz and now was serious about acting. He was deeply nostalgic about his carefree student days in Delhi. We used to laugh a lot - I remember that quite clearly.

Sushant's friends say that he spoke more about books and his love for astronomy than films and their fate, which is rare for an actor in the industry. Do you also remember him that way?

Banerjee: Totally true. He was a science and astronomy nut. Always had a book or two with him - and was proud of the fact that he had an inner intellectual life away from the shallower aspects of showbiz. I recognized it as a reflex, protective action to prevent the Bollywood swamp sucking him in totally. And also an identity he wanted to protect and project.

Sushant's death has brought to the fore the struggles of outsiders and the alienation they often face from the nepotistic culture of the industry. Did you feel that Sushant was also fighting this battle despite being a successful actor?

Banerjee: We all fight it, day in and out - whether successful or failing. But the trick is to define that success and failure ourselves and not let the narrative constantly forced by the establishment to get to you. Those who know this weather the storm and ultimately survive and thrive.

The biggest unfairness in all this is that it takes double the talent, energy and hard work for an outsider to convince the audience and the industry that he or she is as safe a box office bet as a mediocre, unmotivated and entitled establishment elite.

The media colludes in this by wallowing in family, coterie and celebrity worship. This leads to deep anger and frustration. Those who can let this slide survive. Those who can't - those who hurt a little more or are vulnerable and impressionable - they are at risk.

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News Network
May 8,2020

London, May 8: Actor Florence Pugh says the most terrifying aspect of starring in the upcoming superhero film "Black Widow" was doing the Russian accent.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe's stand-alone film, the Oscar-nominated actor plays Yelena Belova, a sister-figure to Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff/ the titular Black Widow who was trained in the Red Room.

"I was scared because my Russian accent was going to be out there and I didn't know what it sounded like.

"I'm also playing a character who no-one's seen before but they've read about her. I didn't know whether people were going to hate me!" Pugh told ELLE UK for its June issue.

The 24-year-old actor also said the idea of joining the MCU itself was quite "daunting".

"When you think of Marvel, it's big and daunting. Especially being a relatively small actor to look at it and go, 'Oh! I'm going to be a part of this', that's a big decision," she said.

"Black Widow", which was scheduled to hit the theatres on May 1, will now release on November 6 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Directed by Cate Shortland, the film also stars David Harbour and Rachel Weisz.

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