‘Shamshera’ Is True, Badass Commercial Cinema: Ranbir Kapoor

In the film, Ranbir Kapoor will be seen in the role of a dacoit.

Ranbir Kapoor at Mehboob Studios. 

(Photo: Yogen Shah)

Ranbir Kapoor has had his share of "coming of age" stories and is now looking forward to Shamshera, which the actor believes is quite a departure from his earlier works. The action-drama film, produced by Yash Raj Films and directed by Karan Malhotra, features Sanjay Dutt as the antagonist. In this film, Kapoor will be seen in the role of a dacoit.

“’<i>Shamshera</i>’ is not a story of a <i>daaku</i>, it is a film based in the 1800s; it is about a dacoit tribe that is fighting for its rights and independence from the British. This is a great story of heroism; a story rooted in our country. It is a departure from the kind of films I have done. It is not (like) the coming-of-age lover boy roles I have done often. ‘<i>Shamshera</i>’ is in the aspirational space – true, badass commercial cinema.”

Ranbir Kapoor to PTI

Ranbir Kapoor during ‘Sanju’ promotions. (Photo: Yogen Shah)

A 45-second teaser was released by YRF last month, in which Kapoor was seen on a battlefield holding an axe and arrows. The caption read 'Karam se dacait, dharam se azaad'. ‘Shamshera’ is set to go on the floors by the end of this year and shooting is expected to be wrapped up by mid-2019. The film will have an element of romance as well because Hindi movies are “incomplete without a love story”, the actor said.

“A true blue Hindi film has everything – comedy, action, romance and drama. And all these films I am doing are in that direction; we are trying to have all these factors in it.”

While the 35-year-old actor has ‘Sanju’ releasing this Friday, Kapoor has an interesting slate of films lined up. Apart from ‘Shamshera’, the actor has Ayan Mukerji's ‘Brahmastra’ and director Luv Ranjan's untitled next with Ajay Devgn.

“Luv Ranjan’s film will happen after I finish ‘Brahmastra’ and ‘Shamshera’. It is a dramatic love story. So I am really looking forward to that. It is something Luv hasn’t done before’ something which even Ajay sir and I haven’t done before.”

In all his upcoming films, Kapoor will be working with big stars – Dutt in ‘Shamshera’, Devgn in Ranjan’s next and Amitabh Bachchan in ‘Brahmastra’. The ‘Tamasha’ star says working with them gives him a career high.

“These are the actors I admire, who I was inspired by when I was an aspiring actor and (it’s great) now to share screen space with them and find acceptance. Amit ji gives so much of love and respect as an actor, it is amazing. It is something I aspire to be. Amit ji has been working for 49 years, he is probably the biggest superstar ever born in the world. But till today, the humility, hard work, passion he shows, it is quite amazing and inspiring for me as a young actor.”

Kapoor says, ‘Brahmastra’, which he is currently shooting for with Alia Bhatt, is written in a trilogy format.

“Ayan has spent six years of his life working really hard to make an original story. It is not a superhero film as people say. It is a romantic fairytale in a supernatural format. We hope the first film does well, it will give us the opportunity to make part two and three.”

Ranbir Kapoor, Actor