One of the most celebrated actors of Bollywood, Ranveer Singh, was a total outsider back when he decided to try his luck in movies. It took him a lot of struggle and hard work to finally get his big break in Bollywood.
Now that the actor has completed a glorious decade in the Indian film industry, he is grateful for all the rejections that actually led him to his debut film Band Baja Baraat.
In an up-close conversation with Hindustan Times on Wednesday, the actor celebrated 10 years of success, reflecting upon his journey of making it big in the fraternity.
“With each passing year and every film, I have learned something more about the craft, about myself, and I have always tried to keep improving my set of skills. With every film and character, I hope to keep exploring myself a little more,” Ranveer said.
"My struggle period was not easy at all. There was a recession going on at that time and the film business was not very prolific so people were making fewer films. Therefore, opportunities for actors were far lesser as compared to today. We didn’t even have any of the web or OTT platforms. So, good opportunities were hard to come by,” he recalled.
“For close to 3.5 years, I was just groping in the dark, attempting various avenues, trying to get a break, endeavoring to get my foot in the door, doing rounds of various offices with my portfolio, looking for work, but not knowing whether it will ever happen at all.” Singh continued. "It was very far-fetched for someone in my position to think that I’d get a big opportunity as a performer, to act as a lead [actor] in Hindi films. The chance was one in a million but I still went for it. With the love, blessings, sacrifices and support of my amazing parents, I mustered up the fortitude to keep going. I was hungry and, at times, foolish, but also very persistent.”
After 10 successful years in Bollywood, the Bajirao Mastani actor now wants to up his game. Singh aspires to build his legacy for generations to come.
"I would like my brand to stand for the pursuit of excellence. Plus, it ought to be fundamentally diverse in its nature so that you can have films that are at opposite ends of the spectrum. For instance, two diverse films such as Lootera and Ram Leela came out within a span of just a few months, or films as diverse as Dil Dhadakne Do and Bajirao Mastani released in the same year. And then, two completely opposite films like Simmba and Gully Boy hit theatres within a gap of just two months," he explained.
The actor wants to leave no stone unturned and cannot wait to try out new roles in the future.
"I want to do it all and do it well. When someone sees me on a poster, the first thought that should come to mind is that, ‘This [film] is going to be the best in its class/genre.’ Regardless of the category, my film should be rated amongst the best in that genre."
On the work front, Singh is currently waiting for his long scheduled release, 83.
