‘I DON’T THINK MUCH ABOUT NUMBERS’
As his latest film enters the ₹200crore club, Ranveer Singh says the audience’s “praise and feedback is most important”
Ranveer Singh spent over a year mastering the intricacies and then portraying the ruthless ruler Alauddin Khilji in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s hit, Padmaavat. And the actor’s understandably feeling “awesome” as the film draws close to making ₹275 crore in India. We caught up with him about the film entering the ₹200-crore club and Bhansali.
You have now joined the ₹200crore club now with Padmaavat...
Not every film achieves such numbers, so it’s very rare. It feels great, especially because a film of mine has made this kind of money at this stage in my career. So, for a film to do such colossal numbers definitely means a lot to me. It shows that my dedication and commitment towards being the best possible entertainer has paid off in the form of widespread acceptance.
Also, the industry has been going through tough times…
It troubles me when I read reports saying that footfalls in theatres are dipping, and that 2017 wasn’t a good year for Hindi films. As a proud member of the fraternity, it is important that we constantly endeavour towards the growth and development of our industry. So, if I’m able to make a contribution, it gives me a very good feeling.
After films such as Ram Leela and Bajirao Mastani, is your tryst with the ₹200crore club now more special since it’s a Bhansali film also starring Deepika Padukone?
So many people across the board — audiences, the film fraternity, critics and journalists — unanimously recognise that there is something special in the combination of Sanjay sir and I. It’s not new for Deepika to see her films notch such numbers. However, I’m very happy that Sanjay sir and I are able to notch our first ₹200crore film together.
Were you expecting the film to do such big numbers so quickly? Films are about business as well. How much importance do you give to box office numbers?
As a professional working within a commercial art form, I will attach importance to it since Hindi movies are a commercial art form. Producers who invest in me should be confident. You also want films to be commercially successful for the greater cause of the growth and development of the industry. Senior actors have thus far carried the mantle of notching big numbers, which the entire chain of the industry benefits from. Now, it is important for the actors from the younger generation to carry that mantle forward. I’m happy to take the lead in that sense. I was anticipating that the film will do big numbers, but I didn’t anticipate how high those numbers would be and how quickly they would rise. But generally, I don’t think much about numbers. The audience’s reaction and their feedback are more important to me. The reaction to the first trailer was something that I have never witnessed, certainly not for any of my films or for most Hindi films.
It feels great, especially because a film of mine has made this kind of money at this stage in my career.
RANVEER SINGH, ACTOR