I took 5 weeks off and grew a natural beard. Yashji personally got the Kada from the Golden temple in Amritsar In 5 weeks we tried different kinds of turbans to get the turbans correct - Ranbir Kapoor

Says the method actor from ‘The Lee Strasberg Theatre and New York Film Institute’, The current flavour of Bollywood is enjoying the pleasant success of AJPKGK & denying any split from Deepika as reported in certain section of the media.

In a brief encounter, Ranbir shares about his forthcoming release ‘Rocket Singh – Salesman of The Year’, & other few things.

Q: What excited you to play a sardar in a film?
A: It’s not being a Sardar that excited me about playing the role. I am playing a man who happens to be a Sardar. It’s the story , the Director, the Production house and the character that got me excited to do the film.

Q: What preparations you did for the role?
A: Because it is a character based film, we wanted to make it as real as possible. We didn’t want to put a fake beard so I took 5 weeks off and grew a natural beard. Thankfully I have a good growth so it didn’t take a long time. In these 5 weeks we tried different kinds of turbans because we wanted to get the turbans correct - the fabric, the colour pattern, length etc. Even while doing the readings I used to wear the turban so that I can get used to the fact that I am playing a sardar.

The Kada I am wearing in the film, I remember, Yashji  (Yash Chopra) personally got it from the Golden temple in Amritsar. I think it was as a blessing he gave it to me and also to give me an authentic look in the film. The team constantly checked if everything was perfect in my look and wardrobe, because we were playing real characters and at the end of the day we didn’t want to do anything inaccurate.

Q: Did you take tips from any on screen or off screen sardar character?
A:  Shimit and Jaideep have made the character so new that I couldn’t imagine anyone in it but I remember I had a friend called Jaikaran Juneja whom I have grown up with. He is a Sardar. He is as normal as you and me - you don’t have make it a caricature or make it an item. Harpreet speaks exactly like him. I don’t think I have modeled myself on him, but I have taken some traits from him.

Q: What was the reaction from your friends and family when they saw you in ‘sardar’ getup?
A: It was a “theda”  (mixed) reaction.
For my family – well, my mother  and nani are sardarnis so they were ecstatic and said that their  wishes are fulfilled that my grandchild is playing a Sardar, so they were really happy.

My friends were really happy that I am working with Shimit as a Director. Everyone is really intrigued and excited and there was a very positive buzz about the film even before I started.

Q: Do you identify with the character Harpreet Singh Bedi you play in the film?
A : Absolutely. Because I think the character is about the youth of the country. It’s about the youth consumed by the desire of the brighter future, youth with the honesty and integrity and a clear heart. They want to earn money obviously, but they have to choose a path and do it in the right way. You can choose between the two paths. And the path that Harpreet chooses is really brave. What he does is amazing!

Q: The promos show you roaming around the office dancing & singing? How was the experience?
A: I was totally alien to this world. Shimit wanted me to have a look at how an office runs, so we used to hang out in the Yash Raj corporate offices to go and see how the atmosphere is. He showed me some DVDs just to see how offices are run. Even when our set was made, it was an office.

Even when we were not shooting and got breaks we spent time there. So it was not like we were never out of office and were staying there and hanging out. Having your lunch there and interacting with your colleagues.

Q: Working with Shimit Amim & Jaideep Sahni, how was the experience?
A: The marriage of thought that Shimit has with Jaideep is like Salim-Javed, meet Manmohan Desai meets other great helmers. They have the the right sensibilities of how the actor to do a scene. I am relatively new in this Industry and have not worked with such talents. It has been a humbling experience.

Q:  What do you think makes a good salesman?
A: More than getting the job, orders and targets achieved, it’s the honesty and integrity. And not only in sales, in any profession. You just need to have these qualities and you will succeed in whatever you do.

Q: Finally, What can the audience expect from the film?
A: They should just expect happiness, expect a good film . I don’t want to say that it’s different and mind blowing. Thats something everyone has to wait and watch. All I can say is that we have worked hard on this film. We have put all our hearts in making this film. We do hope and pray that the audience sees it and enjoys it.