New Delhi: Actor Ranbir Kapoor on Friday said that he is not an angry person in real life and it worked against him when he played the role of a fearless warrior in his upcoming film Shamshera.
Kapoor has collaborated with filmmaker Karan Malhotra for the period action film, which tells the story of a dacoit fighting for independence from his clan and the British.
At the film’s trailer launch here, Kapoor said he lacks temper as an actor and Malhotra had to work extra hard to hone that aspect of his personality.
“It was very difficult for me (to do this film). Karan held my hand. There is one thing I lack as an actor.
“Karan struggled with anger and we sat together a lot. He was like, ‘How do I get your sense of anger out of you for the character’. He went deep into my past, into my personal life, because he wanted to tap into me. That side,” the 39-year-old actor told reporters.
Kapoor credits Agneepath (2012) and Brothers (2015) director Malhotra for forming a great creative partnership with him.
I found a great partner in Karan. It was a very tough role and there were days when I was, I can’t do it.’ In addition to the physical stress, the mental stress of playing this role of this high octane world, emotions were on the rise.
I was talking to God and saying I am working hard, please give it back to me’. I went through those days but I’m glad I did. He said that without a director like Karan, I would not have been able to do this.
Kapoor’s first film as an action hero was ‘Shamshera’. The actor said that earlier filmmakers did not approach him for such a part.
The actor said that he is tired of my comfort zone and the kind of films he is doing.
After 15 years in the industry as an actor, you have to keep challenging yourself and pushing the limits. No director has ever seen me in such films. I am really grateful that Karan Malhotra offered me this kind of role as I was not getting such offers. They usually saw me as coming of age or a romantic guy.
That’s why I jumped at the offer because I knew the film had the potential to speak to a large audience, to speak to audiences who like to go to theaters to experience the film, he said.
Kapoor’s last theatrical release was 2018’s Sanju, a biographical drama film on the life of Sanjay Dutt, and he now shares screen space with the veteran in his latest film, Shamshera.
Kapoor said that Dutt was his first idol, my hero since childhood.
“I have a poster of him, I know him. He has been a family friend. Then I got to act as him and portray his life. Now I have made him my slave. The journey has been incredible.”
He treats me like his son, brother and friend. He said that when I am doing bad films, he calls me and shouts at me.
Dutt, who plays Daroga Shuddh Singh, said he is looking forward to working with Malhotra again after Agneepath, in which he played the iconic villain Kancha Cheena.
Karan makes ‘ajeeb’ (weird) villains and he gives me such good villain parts. The character is a dangerous and cunning man…
It’s fun playing these characters. I am very happy to work with Karan. He said that he has a few things on his mind, he likes to make high octane films.
Vaani Kapoor, who plays Sona in the film, said Shamshera is a cinematic experience, a larger-than-life film.
I have never been a part of a film like this before. “I am a huge fan of Karan Malhotra’s last film ‘Agneepath’ and I got to work with Ranbir Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt, whose work has always inspired me.
Malhotra revealed that Yash Raj Films head Aditya Chopra came up with the original idea for Shamshera after writing the screenplay with his wife Ekta Malhotra.
It was my wife who suggested the title of the film. So that was the beginning of this film.
I believe a film like Shamshera is the future of our cinema. For the theatre-going audience, who enjoy the experience of being in a cinema hall, eating popcorn and samosas and getting immersed in a new life, this film celebrates them all. He said that this should be the future of our cinema.
‘Shamshera’ is set to hit the theaters on July 22. It will release in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.