Opening this Friday is Yash Raj Films’ Rocket Singh – Salesman of the Year! Starring the actor of the moment and sexiest guy Ranbir Kapoor, the film was directed by Shimit Amin. With a script by Jaideep Sahni and produced by Aditya Chopra, the film also stars Prem Chopra, Mukesh Bhatt, D. Santosh, Gauahar Khan, Naveen Kaushilk, Manish Choudhari and introduces Shazahn Padamsee. Ranbir says that it was a combination of things including who he was working for, who was directing him and who the character was that got him to say yes to the film. Read on as Ranbir talks about the film, working with Shimit, and his look. Plus, he reveals a bit about his character, but only a bit, since he wants the audience to see it for themselves.
What was your reaction when you read the script and that you would be playing a Sardar in the film?
Well, Bachna Ae Haseeno had not released at that time and Adi (Aditya Chopra) called me and said, “Just react to this title: Rocket Singh – Salesman of The Year”. He didn’t tell me who the writer or director was. It didn’t really hit me that it was a film about a Sardar, when he briefly told me about the idea of the film. It was then that he told me that Jaideep (Sahni) and Shimit (Amin) had been working on the script and Shimit was planning to direct it. I was ecstatic because I am a big fan of Jaideep and Shimit’s work and just to get a film written by Jaideep and directed by Shimit and produced by YRF was just overwhelming for me. But it is not being a Sardar that excited me about playing the role. I am playing a man who happens to be a Sardar. It’s the story, the Director, the Production house and the character that got me excited to do the film.
This is your first film with Shimit Amin. How was the experience?
He is one of the finest human beings I have met. He is a bit of an introvert. He doesn’t over or under direct you. He has the right sensibilities of how he wants the actor to do a scene. He is extremely talented and gives you your space. I think he is fantastic. I am relatively new in this industry and have not worked with so many Directors, but certainly amongst the Directors I have worked with he is one of the best. It has been a humbling experience for me to be directed by him and to be speaking Jaideep’s lines.
Your look in the film is completely different. What were your friends’ and family’s reaction?
It was a “theda” (mixed) reaction. It took me 5 weeks to grow the beard. In these 5 weeks, we tried different kinds of turbans because we wanted to get the turbans correct – the fabric, the colour pattern, length etc. Even while doing the readings I used to wear the turban so that I can get used to the fact that I am playing a Sardar and it doesn’t look like I’ve just worn the turban for the sake of the character on the day of the shoot. But yes, for my family – well, my mother and nani are Sardarnis so they were ecstatic and said that their wishes are fulfilled that my grandchild is playing a Sardar, so they were really happy. My friends were really happy that I am working with Shimit as a Director. Everyone is really intrigued and excited and there was a very positive buzz about the film even before I started.
For your look in the film you grew a beard and did something with your eyebrow – did the people around recognize you?
Because it is a character based film, we wanted to make it as real as possible. We didn’t want to put a fake beard so I took 5 weeks off and grew a natural beard. Thankfully I have a good growth so it didn’t take a long time. Even then, it was not that when I went out people didn’t recognize me. When we started the film, the buzz of the movie was such, that whenever we went – like we shot a lot on roads and actual streets of Mumbai – people saw a kind of familiarity with this character (which is Harpreet Singh Bedi) and people started connecting with me , as the character. It is nice when people see you and say that you are looking like a Sardar and you are not looking like Ranbir Kapoor. That’s when you succeed. Since the beginning, everyone – Shimit (Amin), Adi (Aditya Chopra) and Jaideep (Sahni) – told me time and again that I was not Ranbir Kapoor, or Raj of Saawariya, I was playing a character called Harpreet Singh Bedi. That way we made the film as real as possible.
The Kada you are wearing – please tell us about it?
The Kada I am wearing in the film, I remember, Yashji (Yash Chopra) personally got it from the Golden temple in Amritsar. I think it was as a blessing he gave it to me and also to give me an authentic look in the film. The team constantly checked if everything was perfect in my look and wardrobe, because we were playing real characters and at the end of the day we didn’t want to do anything inaccurate.
Tell us something your character in Rocket Singh – Salesman of the Year.
The character I play is called Harpreet Singh Bedi. He has just graduated from college, high time that he starts doing something about his life. He is really interested in Sales because more than marks and grades, it’s the intelligence and exposure, and the fact that you respect people, that matters to him more. I don’t want to say more because I want the audience to come and discover the film on their own.
You can discover Ranbir’s Harpreet Singh Bedi when Rocket Singh – Salesman of the Year opens on December 11th! Be sure to check it out, we know we will be there!
