Ranveer Singh on playing Kapil Dev in 83: It’s one of the greatest sporting and underdog stories
Ranveer Singh opens up about playing Kapil Dev in Kabir Khan’s 83. He also said he is aware of his popularity and will ensure that he uses it to champion important causes.
Ranveer Singh is in England, bingeing on live cricket and football matches and he’s ecstatic. “I am charged with energy. I have really missed watching football. I am thrilled to be here for the opening weekend of the English Premiere League (EPL) in the United Kingdom”, says Ranveer Singh who is currently in London. The actor who is the Indian ambassador of EPL is in UK to watch a couple of matches live. But he has also managed to squeeze in time to watch the Indian cricket team play against England at Lords. What’s interesting is that he is playing Kapil Dev in filmmaker Kabir Khan’s film about India’s victory at the 1983 World Cup.
“I feel blessed and lucky to be a part of this film because it is such a glorious chapter in our sporting history. It was long time coming and it’s finally being made and mounted on a huge scale. Yesterday, Kabir (Khan, director) and I spent the entire day at Lord’s interacting with the greatest batsman of all times, Sachin Tendulkar. We were talking about the film. It is one of the greatest sporting and underdog stories,” says the Padmaavat actor.
While he has been offered numerous biopics, Ranveer admits that he hasn’t yet been offered a biopic of a football player. “I haven’t been offered a biopic on the life of a football player. If I had to play one, I would really have to work on my skills because I am sort of like a player in the mould of a bull head. It would be hard to cast me as a football player (laughs)”
Besides, cricket, the actor who is also a huge self-confessed football fanatic says the sport is in good hands of the Indian football team captain, Sunil Chettri. Recently, Chettri appealed to fans in India to come to the stadium and watch football matches live and Ranveer, while lauding his courageous act, says. “Football is such a huge part of my life, apart from films; I am truly passionate about sport, particularly football. Sunil Chettri is such a great leader for the National squad. I think it was very brave and honest of Mr Chettri to bare his heart out on the camera. People listened to him and that was the best part of it all. Hell, I listened. Virat Kohli, the captain of the Indian cricket team came out and showed his support which I think is really remarkable. What Sunil said resonated with people. I couldn’t make it for that match but I was dying to go for it. The turnout at the match was incredible. The atmosphere was electrifying. I messaged him personally after the match but some of my friends who went told me that the kind of support that people came and showed for the squad was emotional. He has been a truly standout leader and I am very glad that he did what he did because it has brought out a wind of change.”
With great power comes great responsibility and for Ranveer who is working with some of the best film-makers in the country today, being known as a youth icon is something he takes very seriously. He has a huge fan following on social media and is known to be one of those few actors who never refuses an autograph or a picture to his fans. “I do understand that being in a position that I am in where I have a certain degree of popularity, I can’t ignore the fact that I am now in a responsible position as a youth icon. But, I don’t feel pressure. I wouldn’t choose that as a word. It is a welcome responsibility. I am growing and evolving as a person and I don’t intend to shirk them. I will honour them and do whatever I can like working hard, making honest choices and being transparent in my dealings to be the best youth icon I can possibly be,” he says.
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