Ranveer Singh says Sanjay Leela Bhansali ‘broke me down’ and ‘made me into ash’
He told IANS, “Mr. Bhansali is somebody who has shaped me as an arte more than any other creative collaborator in my entire life. I used to approach acting a certain way — I used to think ‘mujhe sab pata hai, I know everything’ but Mr. Bhansali stripped down my constructs.”
Ranveer added, “He (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) broke me down and he made me into ash, so that I could rise from the ashes to be reborn as the arte that I’ve grown into today. I’m indebted to him lifelong for that.”
Ranveer and Bhansali have worked together in Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, Bajirao Mastani, and Padmaavat, all three of which also starred Ranveer’s wife, Deepika Padukone. It is said that they fell in love while filming Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela.
Bhansali is known for his lavishly produced movies that enrapture viewers through their attention to detail, costumes, and sets. However, he also has a reputation of being somewhat of a taskmaster, as may be gleaned from Ranveer’s words.
In a panel discussion around the launch of Rahul Rawail’s book Raj Kapoor: The Master At Work in New Delhi last year, Ranbir Kapoor had revealed that when he assed Bhansali on Rani Mukerji and Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Black, the director ‘hit and abused’ him. He, however, added that that behaviour helped him prepare for the world.
Ranbir said (as quoted PTI) “When I assed Mr (Sanjay Leela) Bhansali (on Black), he used to really treat me as an assant director. I used to be kneeling down for hours, he used to hit us, he used to abuse us… that only hardens you and prepares you for the world.”
Ranbir went on to make his Hindi film debut with Bhansali’s Saawariya in 2007, opposite fellow debutante Sonam Kapoor.
