RANVEER SINGH IS THE HERO WE ALL NEED TODAY!

I don't know what prompted me to write this. After so many years in the media/ entertainment/ film industry, one learns to develop a thick skin. And learn to ignore most things written about you in media/ social media. As a lot of them are written from a position of [total/ partial/ selective] ignorance and because there's a ready soapbox available. At times though, when something gets written/ spoken about something/ someone you like. By someone you like even more, it triggers things. So I needed to put this out to make myself feel better. So here it is... 

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RANVEER SINGH IS THE HERO WE ALL NEED TODAY!
- Ashish Patil -

Films are a great reflection of society. There was a reason why the angry young man exploded in the 70’s. He was born out of the repression, angst of the common man with the establishment. And he always had a reason to be angry. His parents had been bumped off, he was an illegit kid, his girlfriend dumped him, corruption frustrated him, his father refused to accept him or someone tattooed “Mera baap chor hai!” on his arm. But as things got better, easier, not just the angry young man, but also pretty much entire childhoods got erased from films. The Rahuls, Prems of the world were all kids who were born rich, happy, successful. Pretty much like kids born into a world with Satellite TV, mobile phones, hight speed internet. Obsessed with having a good time. Today that has moved to Bittoo, Kabir, Kaira, Shruti, Piku, Alizeh, Farah, Sid, Bunny who reflect the new generation. They’re not larger than life. They’re real.

Ranveer with his fans, how he always makes time to make them feel special

They’re people we can relate to, connect to. Do they know what they want and how to get it? No. But neither do I – and I’m 43 now. And as famous pop poet, philosopher, guide, Bono said, “I still haven’t found what I was looking for!” The difference is, this generation has the courage to go look for it. Not settle for a ‘safe job’. They’re excited to take risks. Across everything. Careers, education, relationships. They’re happy to admit they don’t know yet. But they wanna find out. And they’re not scared of that. Don’t judge them for that. And they’re also not afraid to show what they feel. Their excitement, their fears, their happiness, their sorrows. Often a lot of the tears that you do see on those reality shows aren’t always fake. And as crafted and manipulated their instafeed or snap stories may look – that is the dream life that they’re hoping to live out. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Especially when they are ready to work bloody hard to get it.

Ranveer’s iconic Bang Bang Krrish dare for Hrithik on Linking Road, Mumbai

The film industry – just like any other industry – has its fair share of fakes. But the film world gets knocked down a lot more about it because it’s always under the scanner – media and otherwise. We do live in a make-believe world. I think Marilyn Monroe said that. And personally I am sick of the fakes that surround us. The fake smiles, the fake kind words at a screening followed by the whispering “what a shit film”, the fake politically correct interviews, the fake ads – really, the consumer is way smarter than most marketers think. Their bullshit meter is so high, so when a superstar tells you about how he drives a hatchback because the mileage the car gives is so great, I wanna laugh. Yeah right! I believe you shop for your own veggies. Why don’t we save the bull, and instead, just do what you’re best at… entertain me, tell me what’s good about this. And then let me decide if I’ll buy this product. I know of actors who tip off the paps to land up at airports as they exit. Who give crafted interviews, with answers scripted by their publicists. They bore me.

Ranveer doing a video for Akshay’s Rustom

I joined YRF about 7 years back. Band Baaja Baaraat had just been greenlit and we were in prep when this weirdo who often people call ‘the energizer bunny even without batteries’ would be around the studio. If you saw the film poster or looked at him, your reaction initially – and that was shared by most people when the first look of the film came out – was “isko bolo chai leke aaye!”. But over a period of time as I interacted with Ranveer, I realized this was the real deal. This was NOT an act. That IS him. He is always on. And most people who saw Band Baaja couldn’t help but be blown away by him and his performance. And anyone who has met the guy in real life will also be blown away by him and his performance – and the performance is real. It is NOT an act. His OTT-ness, his Govinda-ness, his obvious fan-boy giri for Hrithik, SRK, Akshay. He will take THAT level of trouble – rent a Krrish costume, go to Linking Road, set a benchmark for a dare that is now the gold standard for film promos – because he cares to do the best he always can and up his game. He is someone who will also do something incredibly special if you tell him it’s your kid’s birthday – even if he doesn’t know you. Because he is that guy. He wants to perform. To entertain you. To make you happy. He is not trying too hard. That is him. On his much commented upon style of dressing – I remember, Mr. Bachchan once seeing Ranveer in a green suit telling him he looks like a plant. And him turning up at an awards show for most stylish man of the year, consciously in his jammies with a tee that said ‘no fucks to give’. Not because he’s a showman, to make a statement. That is him. But hey, he’s original and real. Not crafted by a stylist who pulls out what to wear for him everyday.

Ranveer even before he entered films recreating all his favorite film characters, Mr. India, Mola Ram and, of course, Puck-Chick-Puck-Raja-Babu!

About 3 years back I was given the added responsibility of running the talent division at YRF. And as part of that I also manage Ranveer. And as much as I love the guy, and I do, I am among his hardest and harshest critics. It’s important to do that to keep you rooted. And was the first to ask him to “Keep Calm, Jupp Naam!” in any/ all situations. Good or bad. But I realised very soon that everything Ranveer does is with 200%. There’s no halfway house. When he’s replicating an emotion of being shot, he will clamp his ribs while shooting Lootera and undergo excruciating pain. He will shave his head, and refuse to wear a bald wig, for one e-n-t-i-r-e fucking y-e-a-r at a phase when his career is set to explode at the cost of turning down, risking multiple brand endorsements, events and pot loads of money, besides other films because that’s the only way he will FEEL like Bajirao. Be Bajirao. Else he will be fake. And that will kill him. He will take the risk to endorse categories that no one in the industry in India OR overseas does – like condoms because he believes it’s important. He will be the first to endorse a category and brand that most of his contemporaries will be scared to touch. And make it cool. Even if it involves catching a ball with his butt. He will shoot 23 hours/ day and report back on set at 4am the next morning with the same energizer bunny enthusiasm – yes even without the batteries – because that is him. There’s a reason why brands love him. He doesn’t start looking at the clock as we lead up to the end of an 8 hour shift while shooting a commercial. HE WILL NOT LEAVE THE SET UNTIL WE’VE GOT THE BEST POSSIBLE PIECE OF COMMUNICATION WE COULD OUT. He works hard. He also parties very hard. And he pushes his team as hard to do and be the best he and we can all be. I see the meticulousness of Aamir in him in prepping for a part, I see the aura of Salman – he has the same ability to light up any room, including a boring board room as he walks into it, ask any advertiser he’s worked with – and I see the passion, excitement & warmth of Shahrukh in him in all his interactions with each and every person; a fan, a spotboy, his crew. And he is real. It is NOT an act.

Especially because today we live in a world of trolls and haters. You put out a picture of a puppy and someone will comment they wanna eat it! The last month has been what I call the 3D month – with discussions on Deportation of Pak artistes, Donald Trump and Demonetization. With our FB timelines looking like News Hour at 9. Even minus Arnab. We honestly, don’t need that. We live a world where everybody’s supposed to be cool, and act tough and put up fronts and everybody is so cynical. That was from Jerry Maguire, btw. In that world, when I see someone who is optimistic to a fault. Who is real. And wants to give his best. And be the best he can and also entertain you, excite you, inspire you, push you to be the best version of yourself you can be. And be happy, and spread happiness... it’s refreshing. This honesty, candidness bordering on madness. But, for that, of course, you’ll be misunderstood.

Ranveer taking pictures of a Korean couple in Switzerland who had no idea who he was

But irrespective, those are the heroes we seek today. Real people. The heroes we NEED today are those real people. Who do NOT practice some restraint. Who never stop trying hard. Who know that they’re a work in progress. Who have a permanent learner’s license. Who do it with passion or not at all. People who chose to chase their passion, not their pension. And that for me is a hero. Yes, look now and like now. That is Ranveer Singh. 

Ranveer, live tweeting, about his surgery from the Operation Theatre