Ranbir to learn gymnastics, horse-riding

Filmmaker Ayan Mukerji has said that his good friend actor Ranbir Kapoor will undergo training in horse-riding and gymnastics for their next venture, tentatively titled Dragon, which will also star Alia Bhatt.

Reportedly, the upcoming project will be physically taxing for Ranbir. “There is lot of action in Dragon, so there is lot of training for gymnastics, horse-riding, fighting, etc. And then there is internal work, like to get the spirit of the character right. Ranbir has to observe the flavour of the film and communicate it with the audience. We are trying to imagine things, this (fantasy) world, and work accordingly,” said Ayan.

The film will see Ranbir playing a character with special powers. Ayan added that with the movie, he will be venturing into a new arena of filmmaking, and he “wants to make it an interesting watch for the audience.”

Ayan, who has always had a touch of romance in his movies, said this film would be no different. “In its core, it has romance as an element but it has got a new flavour to it. With every film I am trying to evolve and grow.”

The Wake Up Sid director said he is nervous about the film as people have a lot of expectations from him. “There is lot of work that needs to be done for the film. I am feeling very nervous. It’s a huge project and lot of people have faith in it and in me, so I need to deliver [a hit] for my own career, for the producer, the actors and the entire crew,” he said.

Shooting will start early next year and the makers are planning to release the film in 2019.

PHOTO: MANAV MANGLANI/REUTERS Actor Ranbir Kapoor has teamed up with director Ayan Mukerji, once again, for a fantasy film, tentatively titled Dragon, which will also feature actor Alia Bhatt