‘I’M NOW IN A RESPONSIBLE POSITION’

Actor Ranveer Singh, who is hugely popular with the youth, says that he will use the fame for right causes

Ranveer Singh’s energy is one of the most remarkable things about him, and the telephone line crackles with it when the actor speaks to us from London. “I am charged with energy. I’ve really missed watching football. I’m thrilled to be here for the opening weekend of the English Premier League (EPL),” says an ecstatic Ranveer. The actor, who is the Indian ambassador of EPL, is in England to watch a couple of matches live. He has also squeezed in time to watch the Indian cricket team play against England at Lord’s. The actor is playing the role of Kapil Dev in Kabir Khan’s film about India’s win at the 1983 World Cup final, held at this stadium.

“I feel blessed and lucky to be a part of this film, because it is such a glorious chapter in our sporting history. It was a long time coming and it’s finally being made and mounted on a huge scale. Yesterday, Kabir (the director) and I spent the entire day at Lord’s, interacting with the greatest batsman of all times, Sachin Tendulkar. We were talking about the film,” says the Padmaavat actor.

While he has been offered numerous biopics, Ranveer admits that if a football biopic came his way, it’d really test his limits. “I’d really have to work on my skills because I’m sort of like a player in the mould of a bull head. It would be hard to cast me as a football player,” he says laughing. But Ranveer is a big football fan, and feels that in India, the sport is in good hands — that of national team captain Sunil Chhetri. The latter made a video appeal to Indians to come to stadiums and watch football live.

Ranveer says, “I think it was very brave and honest of Mr Chhetri to bare his heart. Hell, I listened. Virat Kohli, captain of the Indian cricket team, showed his support, which I think is really remarkable... I personally messaged Sunil after the match... He has been a truly standout leader.”

Leadership goes with being a youth icon, and Ranveer knows that he is one. The actor says, “I do understand that being in a position that I am in, where I have a certain degree of popularity, I’m now in a responsible position as a youth icon... It’s a welcome responsibility. I’ll honour it and do whatever I can, like working hard, making honest choices and being transparent in my dealings to be the best youth icon I can possibly be.”

I do understand that being in a position that I am in, where I have a certain degree of popularity, I’m now in a responsible position as a youth icon.

RANVEER SINGH ACTOR

PHOTO: YOGEN SHAH