(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Nothing about Ranveer Singh Parineeti Chopra Ali Zafar and Govinda seems rehearsed.
Here are some excerpts from a conversation with the cast who are pumped about the quirky treatment and whacky humour of this Yash Raj production that will release in the UAE this weekend
Ranveer Singh - “I can’t bear myself on screen”
Ranveer Singh is truly in an enviable position right now. His golden period started from Goliyon Ki Rasleela and continued with Gunday. He also seems to be in a happy space personally with his rumoured lady love Deepika Padukone. Come 2015 he promises better work through Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani and Zoya Akhtar’s Dil Dhadakne Do. The wackiest actor that Bollywood has ever seen so far reveals his serious side to City Times.
Courting Bollywood
“It took some time for the industry to warm up to me. Initially they did not know what to make of me. I remained consistent in the way that I was. As time passed and they saw that permanent factor in the way I am they were like ‘Okay so this is the way he is’. It did not happen in the first two years but I guess for the last two years people have started to understand that I am a fun loving person and without any malice. I am happy that I did the Bang Bang dare video for Hrithik; he is somebody I admire a lot. He gives me a lot of inspiration through his work so I felt I should give something back to him and I am very happy with the fact that people find the video entertaining and it became so popular. But I find it very heartening that my video made Hrithik very happy.”
The magic of Kill Dil
“I like myself in this movie for once and I rarely ever do. The only film of mine that I really like is Band Baaja Baarat. I am very critical of my performances; I can’t bear myself on the screen I only find faults and I do not like any of my work (except for Band Baaja) but I did not mind Kill Dil because I really liked the film. It was a unique experience for me to sit with Ali Pari and Govindaji and react the way we did when we saw the film for the first time. The cast usually watches the film together for the first time. But it was different here we were clapping holding each other and laughing and crying. It has never been this way. I think the brevity with which Shaad Ali (director) has told his enduring story is amazing. When we are together it’s a riot.”
Amongst the star cast who could have been a gangster in real life
“Shaad (director). He is a very passionate person in life he is all heart. When he makes a movie its straight from the heart; when he parties it’s with full passion; even when he shows his temper its with a lot of passion when he gets angry its really scary. Both of us have been in a couple of brawls together.”
The most ‘gangster kind of thing’ that he’s done
“I was the ring leader of a gang in school. We used to think of ourselves as gangsters and consider ourselves cool which we were definitely not.”
The most dangerous that he’s done for love
“I had many passionate-romantic relationships and yeah sometimes they bring out immense depth of character in us. When I love I love with all my heart and there is no other way it works for me.”
High on Govinda magic
“Govinda is a legend; all of us who have grown up in the nineties loved all of his work. He is one of the reasons why I became an actor to a great extent. I used to ape him so much that people used to call me ‘Junior Govinda’ in school. Getting to share screen space with my idol is an incredibly surreal feeling.”
On his next film Bajirao Mastani
“Preparation is going good. I had cut myself off from the rest of the world; I locked myself in the hotel room for about two-three weeks and worked on body language and thought process. A lot of work went into it. I am very happy the way the first schedule has gone. This film is different than Dil Dhadakne Do which is closer to my demographic and background – an earthy boy from the year 2014 but in Bajirao I play a Maratha warrior from the 1700s so there was a lot more characterisation to do there. Mr Bhansali reacted well to the character that I infused in Bajirao so it’s coming along very well.”
Parineeti Chopra - “Will kill for love.”
Once Parineeti Chopra faced the camera with Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl she won the nation’s heart. Though she has come a long way with regards to her out-of-the box choices of late she is often accused of being repetitive in her pick of characters. The chirpy actress is happy that she is finally doing something different after a long time.
A good change
“I was looking to change the kind of films that I had done. I wanted something new and this one is like the newest film that you will see in Bollywood. Every actor has done something which is completely opposite from what they have been doing especially for me. I have done films which has always been rooted in reality this one is slightly more larger than life. Just playing a western girl is something that I have not done before; I have also experimented with my looks.”
Born to sing
“Plans are always there but they materialise at the right time. I am a trained singer so I am dying to sing. I am just waiting for the right opportunity. For Priyanka and I it is no surprise because our whole family sings and not just the two of us. She is not trained I am trained and most of the kids in our house are trained singers.”
Among the star cast who could have been a gangster in real life
“I would say Ali and not because of his real life personality because in real life he is very nice. But on screen he has enacted the role so well that you really believe that he is a gangster.”
Most ‘gangster kind of thing’ that she’s done
“I am too friendly to be a gangster.”
The most dangerous thing she’s done for love
“When I am in love I am all there and will do whatever it takes. I have gone all the way emotionally for people that I loved. I love like there is no tomorrow. I will kill for love.”
High on Govinda magic
“There are no words to describe how it was to work with him. It’s like watching someone all your life and then meeting them which kind of takes your breath away. Imagine being someone’s fan all your life and then working with that person. We all remember every song and costume of his by heart; I think I am so lucky that he is in the film with us.”
My buddy Ranveer
“I know Ranveer from the time he was not an actor so we know each other for a while now. I have worked on his film Band Baaja Baarat as a PR and then we did Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl. We share a comfortable relationship and I love him as a person. There is lot of love and affection inside him and I love those kind of people.”
Break time
“I had signed a film with Illuminati but we are not shooting that now the film has been put on hold. As of now I am going to take a break after
Kill Dil and go on a holiday before I start working again.”
Ali Zafar - “I am playing an assassin trained by ‘Bhaiyaaji’ Govinda”
Pakistani actor and singer Ali Zafar is anxiously waiting for the release of Kill Dil considering his last film Total Siyapaa bombed at the box office. Ali is the most successful Pakistani actor in Bollywood right now having done seven films so far.
The assassin
“I was delighted because I’ve always wanted to do something like this. I wanted a gun in my hand and to do my hair and get out of my comfort zone. Then came Kill Dil. Playing this character came pretty naturally to me. It is very different from the characters that I have played before. I am playing a shooter an assassin trained by ‘Bhaiyaaji’ Govinda. He trains both Ranveer’s and my character. It is a story about these two friends brothers who were raised by ‘Bhaiyyaji’ and trained to be shooters and their job is to steal the money and get the hell out of there. Then a girl comes into the story and the entire dynamics of the relationships alter which has an effect on everybody and hence the drama.”
Musical nights after pack up
“Every night when the work would finish we would all sit down around a bonfire sing songs and discuss the day. I would sing and play my guitar. Ranveer and me got along very well and ended up becoming fast friends. Parineeti sings and I also sing so we used to break out into songs while the scenes were happening and we had a great time shooting for this film.”
High on Govinda
“It’s been on my bucket list for a while to dance and groove with Govinda. It was a great experience he is a great performer and it was an honour. Govinda also loves hanging out and enjoys music and stuff. On one of the nights he also sang. Govinda and Ranveer even had a dance off - not exactly a dance competition but Ranveer paid tribute to him with his dance numbers. It was a lovely atmosphere.”
Behind the scenes
“I have worked a lot on my character. The guy looks very different from me so I worked out a lot for about three-four months and gained muscles and grew my hair and beard and was totally focused on the various styles of my character. I completely got into the character along with the dialect that he speaks.”
Govinda - The comeback
Hero No. 1 is back with a bang! Govinda mania is all set to hit screens this weekend and this superstar of the 90s gracefully entertains his way back into the spotlight after many years of staying away from the camera. Govinda will be seen as ‘Dirty Bhaiyyaji’ a villain in Kill Dil.
Dream come true
“It was great to work with these young actors; they are extremely hard working and have good manners and ethics. They gave me lot of respect. It was also my dream to work with Yash Raj Films.”
On playing a villain:
“I rejected the film when it was offered to me initially because I felt that I will not be able to play a villain. But my wife said that I must work considering it’s been so long that I have acted in any film. So I called up Shaad after a few days and told him that I will do the film. But it was only when I started doing it that I felt like something new is happening something that I have not done before. Shaad allowed me to interpret my character in my way. After Kill Dil I signed Happy Ending and many more films; 2014 has been a great year for me.”
Among the entire star cast who could have been a gangster in real life
“I think an actor should only concentrate on acting. See I got into politics and I could not do anything there. So I think it is important that one should stick to their own field.”