23 October,2011 10:17 AM IST | | Krutika Behrawala
Dressed in a plain white kurta, Ranbir Kapoor is at ease taking on the playboy tag even as he chats about Imtiaz Ali's Rockstar, and working with ex-flame Deepika Padukone in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
It has been a year since your last release, Anjaana Anjaani. Why are you so choosy?
I am not choosy. It's been three and a half years in the industry, and I have already done seven films! I don't want to do films just for the sake of it. Money is never my driving force. I should instinctively want to do a film.
I always wanted to work with Imtiaz Ali, and when he offered me the script of Rockstar, I liked both the script and my character. It has taken a while to make this film, because it encompasses a 10-year journey. All of us surrendered ourselves to this film and I didn't sign anything else.
You reportedly said Rockstar is a tragic love story.
My sentence was misconstrued. It's primarily a love story, a journey between Heer and Janardhan Jakhar. It is also about Janardhan's musical journey; he becomes an iconic rockstar. He is an immature guy, who has been told that if one wants to become a great artiste, one has to suffer heartbreak. He then seeks heartbreak, but when he finally succeeds in being heartbroken, ironically, he doesn't want to be a rockstar anymore.
Do you believe that the best creative work comes out of pain?
Absolutely. As an actor, you need a reservoir of emotions. For any form of art, what you've felt ufffd it need not be sadness or pain, it could be happiness, anxiety, jealousy, greed, lust ufffd can come in handy for your work. You are giving away a part of yourself. Emotions you experience in your real life and those you express as an actor are related.u00a0
Did you live the character during the making of the film?
My character in Rockstar is a Jat from Delhi, who lives in Pritampura. Imtiaz and I lived with a Jat family to see how they talk and relate to each other. We went drinking and dancing with them, and heard their love stories. I wanted what they said to subconsciously seep into me.
And did you also learn how to play music for the role?
I learnt to play the guitar. I flew to Chennai and sat with
AR Rahman on every song recording of the film. I studied Mohit Chauhan's expressions when he was singing and also the chords that the guitarist was playing.
Did you want to be a rockstar while growing up?
No. I wanted to do something related to films. Honestly, I can't sing to save my a''. God hasn't granted me sur and taal. It's my disadvantage as an actor (because, ideally) I should be good with every form of entertaining.
Did you take the initiative to break the ice with heroine Nargis Fakhri?
Of course, it was really hard for her because she was coming to a land where she didn't know the language or the people. Nargis has been a boon to our film.
In Anurag Basu's Barfee you play a deaf and mute person. Is it a serious film?
Barfee is a happy romantic comedy, which children will also enjoy. Anurag Basu himself is a child, and a director's personality is always reflected in a film. I play a deaf and mute person, who is a vagabond. The film is more dumb charades and physical comedy.
What will it be like working with Deepika Padukone again on Ayan Mukherjee's Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani?
Having been in a relationship that has been spoken about so much, Deepika and I come with a lot of baggage. But it is our job as actors to get rid of the baggage, to make our characters believable. I like the character and I want to work with Ayan. It doesn't matter who the actress is.
Deepika and I have moved on in our lives, we have come to a point where there is a lot of positivity. I respect her and care for her; and I am sure she reciprocates. I really look forward to doing the film with her because it's a musical, coming-of-age love story.
How do you deal with the constant linkups and the Casanova tag?
It's fine. My focus is on my journey, and my goal. I am here for the bigger picture. I am 29 years old, I work really hard and respect my parents.u00a0I believe I am a good guy. If I am dating a woman, it's not wrong and I will be open about it. I have been single for a while now, not because I want to be single or because I am a horny rabbit, it's just that I haven't met somebody who I want to be with. As you grow older, you understand the value of a relationship, of a commitment; you can't take it for granted. So there is no hurry.
