Ranbir Kapoor in “Bombay Velvet.”

He has mostly fronted romantic and coming-of-age roles but in “Bombay Velvet” Ranbir Kapoor will be seen in his most intense avatar, something that the actor found both fascinating and challenging, writes Bedika.

Set against the backdrop of 1960s Prohibition era Bombay, the Anurag Kashyap-directed movie juxtaposes a man’s ambition to grow at all costs with that of a city.

“It is my most angry role, it is very intense. I have never even slapped in my earlier movies. The intensity is there because of the place that Johnny comes from. His aggression is about survival. It is not out of choice,” Ranbir told PTI in Panaji, May 5.

The 32-year-old actor, who along with the entire star cast was in Goa for the film’s promotions, said Kashyap helped him a lot to get into the skin of the character.

“Anurag has that intensity. The world of films like Barfi and Bombay Velvet is not familiar to me. The credit should go to the directors. I am just an instrument.”

Anushka Sharma and Ranbir Kapoor in “Bombay Velvet.”
Anushka Sharma and Ranbir Kapoor in “Bombay Velvet.”

Ranbir learnt the cage fighting style besides mastering the ‘tapori’ language of that era for which his reference point was Johnny Walker from the Guru Dutt-Madhubala starrer 1955 film Mr. & Mrs. 55.

“He spoke the tapori language of that era but since I have an urban image, I had to ensure that it does not turn out to be a caricature,” he said.

The film, slated to release on May 15, has already caught the eye of cinema lovers with its meticulous recreation of the nostalgia of ’60s.

Ranbir, however, found it more challenging to map the emotional motivation of his character and said that’s what drew him to the part.

“I have a very urban image. I don’t get offered scripts like Bombay Velvet and this did not come directly to me. I approached Anurag for the role because I found it very engaging.”

Talking about his co-star Anushka with whom he will team up again in Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Ranbir said her fearlessness helped him better his craft.

“Any actor would die to play Johnny and Rosie. They are not written very often. Anushka as an actor is emotionally naked on the screen. She has no trappings of glamor. I loved working with her so much that I am now looking forward to re-team with her in Karan’s film.”