Dhurandhar’s co-producer, Jyoti Deshpande, has opened up about why Ranveer Singh was cast in the mega blockbuster film franchise. Explaining the mathematics behind the casting, she mentioned that since the film already cost too much, hiring expensive actors was not a viable option. She mentioned that she needed a “performer” instead of a “so-called star” and Ranveer Singh fit the bill.
Speaking to Outlook Business, Jio Studios CEO Jyoti Deshpande mentioned, “I was underwriting an absolutely clutter-breaking film with cinematic excellence that had never been seen before.” She said, “For more than six months, we were talking about it; there were several iterations of the draft and the story over those six months.”
‘Film Was Already Too Expensive’
She explained, “We knew the film was expensive. Every penny had to land up on screen. There were no safe things we could do because it was already an expensive film to shoot. Now, if we added expensive actors as well, it was going to render the film unviable on day one. So we wanted performers rather than the so-called stars.”
How Did Jyoti Know Ranveer Singh?
“I had worked with Ranveer on Ram-Leela and Bajirao Mastani, when he wasn’t this big. So I had worked with him when he was starting out, and I still believe those are some of my favourite films of Ranveer Singh. I find him an absolutely outstanding actor who gives it his all. He transforms into a character,” Jyoti added.
She continued, “I love that about him, the fact that he is not Ranveer Singh in that film. When he has to become Bajirao, he becomes Bajirao. When he has to become Khilji, he becomes Khilji. When he has to become the Gully Boy, he becomes the Gully Boy. So he transforms; he doesn’t play Ranveer Singh.”
‘Everyone Was All In’
Jyoti also mentioned that Ranveer was involved in the film beyond just acting. She said, “Everyone was involved. Aditya Dhar, to begin with. And Ranveer Singh, the actor, who went all in and did nothing else for the duration of the film. Every technician who was part of that film, whether it’s cinematography, sound design, editing, everyone was all in.”
“We all knew we were making something that had so much purpose, so much heart, that had never been seen before, that had never been done before. And it was almost like, if we don’t do this, we’re not alive. I mean, we have to do this against all odds. So it defied everything. I had to keep finding a way to move forward and not stop,” she mentioned.
Dhurandhar proved to be a good bet for the producer as it broke several box office records. Ranveer Singh was also largely lauded for his portrayal of Hamza Ali Mazari and Jaskirat Singh Rangi. Now, Ranveer is preparing for Pralay, co-starring Kalyani Priyadarshan.
