What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
Ranveer Singh’s portrayal of Alauddin Khilji in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2018 film “Padmaavat” was widely praised, but the actor revealed
NEW DELHI: Ranveer Singh’s portrayal of Alauddin Khilji in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2018 film “Padmaavat” was widely praised, but the actor revealed that getting into the character’s dark mindset had a profound effect on him.
He mentioned locking himself up in his Goregaon house and isolating himself to prepare for the role, which led to significant mental strain.
However, some actors have criticised Ranveer’s approach. Prashant Narayanan, in an interview with Siddharth Kannan, dismissed Ranveer’s claims about method acting as nonsense, stating, “Woh jhoot bol raha hai. Yeh dark spaces mein jana, yeh sab karna yeh bakwas ki baatein hai.”
Jim Sarbh, Ranveer’s co-star in “Padmaavat,” also seemingly mocked the idea of getting deeply entrenched in a character to the point of needing therapy. In a conversation with The Quint, he said, “There are all those actors who are like ‘You know, I was so stuck in my character that I had to get mental therapy for weeks after.’ I was like ‘shut up bro. You didn’t even know your lines on the day, what nonsense.”
ALSO READ: Joe Biden admits age after debate
In a recent interview with Shubhankar Mishra, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, known for his dedication to method acting, defended Ranveer Singh’s process. Without naming the critics, Nawazuddin questioned the validity of their judgments, stating, “The people who are calling it fake, did they bother to understand the actor’s process? Did they bother to understand how he was living his life when he was creating the character? They are simply judging him. We don’t know what a man is thinking when he’s coming up with a characterisation.”
Nawazuddin emphasised the painful and rigorous nature of method acting, comparing it to the efforts of iconic performances like Heath Ledger’s in “The Dark Knight.” He argued that such deep immersion in a character should not be dismissed casually as pretentious. “If there was no process, then what Heath Ledger did in The Dark Knight would not be possible. That man was extremely serious about his performance and that is why he excelled in the character; that’s how iconic characters are born,” he said.
Nawazuddin elaborated on how actors often tap into uncomfortable and dark parts of their past to bring authenticity to their roles. He criticized those who undermine this process, saying, “They think it is pretentious. When you dive deep into a character, it is a very painful process. This is a very irresponsible thing to say. You never know which part of his past he is tapping to get into character. You can’t take this so easily.”
When the interviewer identified Ranveer’s critics as Prashant Narayanan and Jim Sarbh, Nawazuddin questioned their current professional standing, subtly suggesting that their lack of significant recent work might undermine their credibility in making such comments.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui concluded by asserting that it is unfair to judge an actor’s process without fully understanding it. He stressed that the dedication and pain involved in method acting should not be underestimated or dismissed, reinforcing the importance of respecting an actor’s craft and process.
Nawazuddin’s film “Rautu Ka Raaz” premiered on ZEE5 on June 28, while Ranveer Singh was last seen in “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.”
