It is a well-known fact that Bollywood actors Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone are director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s (SLB) favourite muses. The trio has previously worked together in the blockbuster films Goliyon ki Raasleela: Ram Leela and Bajirao Mastani and have developed comfort and understanding with each other.
However, Shahid did not quite share the same feelings as his co-stars did.
Shahid, who essayed the role of the dynamic Maharawal Ratan Singh, in an interview with DNA said that he felt like an outsider on the sets of Padmaavat.
“I’m used to being the favourite of all my filmmakers. This was the first time that I was like an outsider. When you work with a team that has worked together, you are kind of an outsider and it takes time for you to break through that barrier,” he said, adding, “This is one of those films where after many years of work you feel like a newcomer.”
Reacting to his comment, Ranveer Singh in a recent media interaction, asserted that he tried his best to welcome Shahid.
“To be honest, I did my best to welcome him and did whatever I could do to be a supportive co-actor. But I think it’s got to do with the genre as well. I think Padmaavat is Shahid’s first costume drama and a costume drama has its own set of unique challenges which I had faced during Bajirao Mastani and it takes some time to get adapted to it. I think he’s reacting to that,” Ranveer was quoted as saying.
Nonetheless, Shahid Kapoor is extremely excited with the film’s success and was quoted as saying, “10 years down the line, when I have a library of films, having my films worth sharing with my family, my children, Padmaavat will be there. I am the hero of a Bhansali film, the numbers are going nuts, all is good. Rest is history.”
The actor further said it is difficult to find a film which justifies the presence of more than one male lead, and hence, the audience does not get to see movies with multiple leads anymore.
“There are very few films, written today, which are worthy of two big actors. When someone has the ability to write content of some quality, then actors will do it. How many Padmaavats are being made?”
Shahid said when filmmakers come up with films with various characters which are not uni-dimensional “only a stupid actor will say no” to them, elaborating that he never had any insecurity regarding another actor’s presence in a film because he only focuses on making the most of the opportunities offered to him.
Aditi Rao Hydari, who played the role of Mehrunisa, Alauddin Khilji’s wife is also ecstatic with her role and success of the film. The limited screen time did nothing to dampen the actor’s happiness and Hydari said that she felt “overwhelmed” with the film’s success and praise for her portrayal.
Hydari remarked “It has been a childhood dream of mine to work with Sanjay sir. I am actually very overwhelmed by the response because Mehrunisa, I knew, has a very special part. Sanjay sir always told me that anyone who read the script always asked who was going to play Mehrunisa. So, I knew it was a small but major role.”
“In every scene, her character and how she says so much in very few words is beautiful. I really enjoyed playing Mehrunisa and give full credit to the people who created that character.”
“It’s such a pleasure to play somebody who is not only vulnerable, delicate, regal, grace personified and pure, but also who is fearless and stands up for what is right at every stage and has absolutely no fear in doing so. I think it was a very beautiful character,” she concluded.
Padmaavat, which stars Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in key roles, hit the screens after a string of controversies. Despite the hurdles, it made more than Rs 200 crore at the box office.
