Playing myriad roles ever since his Bollywood debut in 2010 with Band Baaja Baaraat, Ranveer Singh, who is currently busy with Rohit Shetty’s Simmba, credits his career in the Hindi film industry to his love for ‘masala’ entertainers.
“Mainstream Hindi films or masala entertainers are the reason I ever wanted to become an actor,” says Singh. “When I was a kid, I used to only watch these kind of films. It has been my education, it has been a part of my upbringing. So, it is a huge deal for me that I am finally doing something that is a true blue masala entertainer.”
In Simmba, Singh will be seen playing the flamboyant policeman, Sangram Bhalerao. He feels he has earned this opportunity.
“Having put in the work over few years, I’m getting to be a leading man in Rohit sir’s film. I regard him to be the finest proponent in the masala genre. He is the undisputed best in the business of masala entertainers. It could not be sweeter, it could not be better,” says the actor.
For the Padmaavat star, this will be the first time he will be seen acting in a comedy. However, Singh calls it is his ‘home territory’ crediting his ease with the genre to veteran Bollywood actor and comedian, Govinda.
“I’m a huge Govinda fan. Yes, I’m going to try my hands at mass comedy but I always thought this would be home territory for me because some of my favourite films that I have grown up watching are Govinda’s films,” he reveals.
However, Singh does admit that he has realised comedy is serious business.
“You really have to nail it. Your timing has to be just perfect,” he says.
Now that the 33-year-old actor has given it a shot, he says he has “even more respect” for actors such as Govinda, along with Johnny Lever, Kader Khan and Anupam Kher — known for their comic roles in films.
“What they do is really admirable and I have all the more love, respect, admiration and reverence for them having tried it myself,” he says.
Quizzed whether he is thrilled to play a police officer, a character that actors such as Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar have played successfully in the past and Singh admits it is hard.
“There is a lot of work that goes into making a masala film, in terms of demands on you as an actor... You really have to put in a lot. I am thoroughly enjoying it.”
