‘I WON’T COMPLAIN ABOUT INVASION OF PRIVACY’

Actor Ranveer Singh says it’s not easy being a celebrity but the pros definitely outweigh the cons; adds that he enjoys and appreciates his profession

Bollywood’s favourite poster boy, Ranveer Singh is working with an enviable list of filmmakers such as Kabir Khan, Zoya Akhtar, Rohit Shetty and Karan Johar. While Ranveer does feel overwhelmed sometimes, the actor says that he is aware of the expectations from him and he does not intend to take these opportunities lightly.

“It is almost surreal that I get to collaborate with these filmmakers I have looked up to and who’s work I appreciate. It is an honour for me and a matter of great pride. Each of them has a different style and something unique to offer me to learn. That helps me grow as a performer,” he says.

The actor says he tremendously values these opportunities. “I understand that this line up of films and directors is the stuff of dreams. I comprehend it well and that motivates me to work harder and maximise my potential. I am thankful to all these filmmakers who have deemed me worthy of being a part of their projects. I thank them from the bottom of my heart,” he says.

Being a celebrity comes with its share of downsides – lack of privacy being one. However, Ranveer feels that in his profession, it is something that can be dealt with. “I think it has become a little more complicated with the advent of camera phones. There is the selfie craze and everyone is walking around with a camera and now with social media, it’s easily sharable. It’s not easy (being a celebrity), but you will never find me complaining (about invasion of privacy),” he says.

Ranveer says that he never forgets to count his blessings. “I enjoy the perks of being a celebrity, so I don’t think I can complain about the downsides. I am at a position where I am doing the biggest films with the finest filmmakers. I am being paid well and I am growing as a person. Yes, there is a downside but it pales in comparison to the upsides that I enjoy, appreciate and value,” he says.

His last release, Padmaavat, brought him a lot of appreciation and accolades. But it also stirred a few controversies. Ranveer, who played Allaudin Khilji in the film, had once said that the film took a toll on his health, both emotionally and physically. Do his recent film choices prove that the actor now wants to get out of the ‘intense actor’ zone? “There is no doubt that playing Khilji took a massive toll on me, and I could not follow that up with another intense role as I would run the risk of burning out. Balance is very important. At the end of the day, I have to pace myself as a performer. Time heals everything and you feel like you have certain experiences which rejuvenate you, and you can get back to choosing intense roles. But I am conscious that I need to balance the parts out,” says the actor whose next release is Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy in which he is paired opposite Alia Bhatt.

I enjoy the perks of being a celebrity. I don’t think I can complain about the downsides. I’m at a position where I am doing the biggest films with the finest filmmakers. RANVEER SINGH, ACTOR

PHOTO: VIRAL BHAYANI Ranveer says that he never forgets to count his blessings