Ranveer Singh: You can’t even take my name in the same breath as Shah Rukh Khan

Ranveer Singh is currently prepping up for Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy. In a recent interview with a leading Indian daily, Ranveer Singh was asked about the praises that is being showered on him for playing the character of Alauddin Khilji in Padmaavat, Ranveer said, “Now that this kind of appreciation is pouring in, all this is sone pe suhaaga. For me, the process is the prize. I genuinely believe in it. There is no greater gift for me — a kid who always had stars in his eyes and just wanted to be a Hindi film hero. Here, I got to be a Hindi film hero as well as a villain.”

Talking about being compared with Shah Rukh Khan’s characters in the film Darr, Baazigar and Anjaam, Ranveer said, “I have been acting in movies for about seven-and-a-half years and from my very first film, people have been drawing comparisons with Shah Rukh Khan. I don’t think there’s any basis for it. He is a living legend. You can’t even take my name in the same breath as him. He has achieved and contributed a lot to Hindi cinema. He is a game-changer in so many ways. Like I always say, even if I can achieve an iota of what he has managed to do, I will consider that to be a genuine achievement.”

Talking about Shahid Kapoor feeling left out, Ranveer said, “To be honest, I did my best to welcome him and did whatever I could do to be a supportive co-actor. But I think it’s got to do with the genre as well. Padmaavat is his first costume drama. So, such a film has its own set of unique challenges, which I faced during Bajirao Mastani and it takes some time to get adapted to it. I think he is reacting to that.”

Talking about Gully Boy, the actor said, "If you are excited about your work, it’s not difficult at all. The day I finished shooting Padmaavat, I was thinking about Gully Boy because that’s a film, which is very dear and special to me. I strongly feel for these people on which the characters are based on. They are marginalised people from the lowest strata of the society who have a tough existence. It’s a very difficult life and they find their expression as artistes."

Speaking about the music of Gully Boy, he said, "They have started a music scene that’s so unique. It’s in Bambaiyya language which is the most incredible thing. You have to read sometimes what these kids are writing."

"They are in their early 20s and they write social commentary about what’s wrong in the system and make such strong observations and comments on the state of affairs. So, I strongly feel for them and I want to do what I can to give a platform to these amazing musical talents. Gully Boy is a story which I really want to tell along with Zoya. You will be quite amazed to hear its music," he added.