Ranveer Singh turned down Khilji initially: ‘I wasn’t at that stage in life. I was very happy, Deepika and I were gonna get married’

Actor Ranveer Singh has revealed in a recent interview that he had initially turned down Alauddin Khilji’s role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat. He said he was in too happy a state of mind to pick up the dark character.

Ranveer was invited to CNN News 18’s actors’ roundtable with Ayushmann Khurrana, Shahid Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna and Vijay Varma. When the actors were asked by film critic Rajeev Masand about the roles they first rejected but later agreed to, Ranveer said he wasn’t convinced about playing the emperor.

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“Ya. Khilji actually,” Ranveer said as the entire table of actors showed disbelief. “I found the character so loathsome, so despicable and so dark, so messed up. It was out of sheer fright and fear that I told Sanjay sir that this might take me into sort of a hole that I may not come out of. I can see myself going a bit barmy on this guy and I don’t know if I was at that stage in my life. I was very happy. DP (wife and actor Deepika Padukone) and I were gonna get married. It was all roses. Touchwood, Joolelaal,” he said as others erupted in laughter.

However, Bhansali did manage to convince him. “I remember that one moment on his balcony eating macchi curry. We were just going back and forth. I was apprehensive and he got frustrated. He could not have said another word to convince me. He just got frustrated, he put his chawal back in his plate like this (slams hands on table aggressively). ‘My boy don’t you want to play a character who’s got 75 kilo ba**s?’ I was like you know what? I mean I’m on,” he said.

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Ranveer earned a lot of praise from critics and audience alike for the role. The film went on to record a stellar collection at the box office as well. The role won him many awards including the Filmfare Award for Best Actor (Critics).

Ranveer will now be seen in ‘83 with Deepika. He will play former cricket captain Kapil Dev in the film while Deepika will play Kapil’s wife Romi. ‘83 is based on India’s surprise cricket World Cup victory in 1983. He also has Takht with Karan Johar and recently began shooting for Jayeshbhai Jordaar.

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