I never liked Ranveer Singh; right from the first time I saw him in songs of Band Baja Baraat, I failed to connect with him, but from the moment I saw him perform, I knew he could act. My not being his fan was not at all about his acting abilities; it was his personality, which put me off. I think he tried too hard to be cool.
Leave alone my dislike of him; he is a gem of an actor, a performer who has the ability to transform himself completely, be it subdued Lootera or fierce Baji Rao; he can be Zoya’s Kabir of “Dil Dhadkne Do” with the same ease as he was Bhansali’s Khilji.
Early Life and Career
Ranveer Singh was born on July 6, 1985, in Mumbai, a Ranveer Singh Bhavnani, into the family of Jagjit Singh Bhavnani and Anju Bhavnani. His grandmother was the iconic actress Chand Burke. He got his early education from Learners’ Academy, Mumbai, before going to Indiana University Bloomington, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. After his graduation, he worked in advertising but soon realised his passion lay in acting.
Making his debut with the film “Band Baaja Baaraat” in 2010, Singh won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. In the film directed by Maneesh Sharma, Singh’s played Bittoo Sharma, a spirited Delhi wedding planner. He teams with equally hot headed Shruti Kakkar (Anushka Sharma) to build a business.
The film tells the story of how these misfits overcame the professional and personal challanges challenges. Singh brings infectious energy and charm to the charm and surprisingly gave one of the most authentic Delhi boy performances.
He followed it with Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl (2011) with Anushka Sharma Parineeti Chopra.
Lootera
One of the most significant milestones of Ranveer’s career was Vikramaditya Motwane’s Lootera (2013). The film is an adaptation of O. Henry’s short story “The Last Leaf” and Rabindranath Tagore’s “Labanyalata.” Lootera follows Varun Shrivastava, a con artist posing as an archaeologist, played by Ranveer Singh. Set in 1950s Bengal and Dalhousie, the story tracks his romance with Pakhi (Sonakshi Sinha), a zamindar’s daughter.
Varun deceives her family to steal treasures, leading to a tragic turn when Pakhi’s father dies. Varun returns later, posing as a painter, and sacrifices himself to inspire Pakhi’s recovery from illness. The plot blends romance, betrayal, and redemption, unfolding over two distinct halves. Singh portrays Varun with a restrained intensity. He captures the character’s initial confidence and his transformation into a remorseful figure.
Ranveer Singh The Star
The same year, he collaborated with Sanjay Leela Bhansali on “Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela,” an retelling of the epic tragedy “Romeo and Juliet.” It was also the first film where he appeared with his future wife, Deepika Padukone, whom he married in 2018. Bhansali’s next Bajirao Mastani, casts Singh as Bajirao I, a Maratha Peshwa in a love triangle with Mastani (Deepika Padukone) and Kashibai (Priyanka Chopra). He portrays the warrior with intensity, mastering swordplay and Marathi diction. Ranveer won the Filmfare Best Actor Award for his physical transformation. Bhansali and Ranveer collaborated again for the period dramas “Padmaavat,” which were both great critical and commercial successes.
One of his other significant collaborations is with Zoya Akhtar, who cast him in Dil Dhadakne Do (2015) in one of his most grounded roles. Singh plays Kabir Mehra, the son of a business family torn between his dysfunctional family and his ambitions. Singh’s portrayal of a loving brother of Priyanka Chopra and his dynamic with Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah, Anushka Sharma, Farhan Akhtar and others were on point. His performance balances subtle humor and immense depth of character.
Critical Acclaim
In 2019, he starred in Zoya’s coming-of-age musical drama “Gully Boy.” His performance as Murad, an aspiring rapper from a Mumbai slum, won him immense critical acclaim. As Murad, Ranveer shows his journey from a young boy with a complicated personal life to a superstar. He chemistry with MC Sher (Siddhant Chaturvedi) and Alia Bhatt was also praised. Singh’s authentic rap delivery and emotional range shine, earning a Filmfare Best Actor Award.
2021 sports drama, 83 directed by Kabir Khan, depicts India’s 1983 Cricket World Cup win. Ranveer Singh as Kapil Dev, ecreates the captain’s leadership, training extensively for the role. Some other notable films of his career include “Befikre (2016),” “Simmba (2016),” “Jayeshbhai Jordaar (2022), Cirkus (2022),” and “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (2023).”
Personal Life
Off-screen, Singh is recognised for his flamboyant fashion sense and high-energy personality. Singh dated Deepika Padukone since 2012, meeting on Ram-Leela. They married on November 14, 2018, at Lake Como, Italy. Their daughter, Dua Padukone Singh, was born on September 8, 2024.
Ranveer Singh on IMDB
