I really want Sanjay Dutt to like me in 'Sanju': Ranbir Kapoor

The 'Tamasha' star hopes to have represented Dutt's life in an honest, improved way

MUMBAI: Actor Ranbir Kapoor, whose portrayal of Sanjay Dutt in Sanju has left the audience awestruck, says he really wants the senior actor to like him and his work.

In a press conference held on Wednesday during the trailer launch of the film, the star-studded cast, Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala, Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Sonam Kapoor, Dia Mirza and Vicky Kaushal and Ranbir shared their two cents on the upcoming venture.

PHOTO: TWITTER/RAJKUMAR HIRANI

Asked how he felt portraying various phases of Sanjay's life, Ranbir said, "When I was a child, I had a poster of Sanju sir on the wall of my cupboard and through this film, I am in his shoes. I think, in my life, I really want Sanju sir to like me."

"I know I never can be the man he is, but in whichever way that I go about in my career as a person and even through this film, I really want Sanju sir to like me because I feel that he is man that I respect a lot and I really look up to. I hope that he feels that I have represented his life in a very honest and improved way," added the Ae Dil Hai Mushkil star.

PHOTO: TWITTER/RAJKUMAR HIRANI

The film's trailer gives a rushed glance at the various phases and challenges Sanjay has faced in his personal life, including a battle with drugs, multiple relationships and legal troubles.

How does Ranbir summarise the trailer? "We have worked on this film for two years. Through the trailer, we tried and represented the best version of it as we can to excite the audience," he said. "I always had belief in film, script and in Rajkumar Hirani's vision so it's way bigger than a trailer for me. The trailer is just short window of what's going to come in the film."

PHOTO: TWITTER/RAJKUMAR HIRANI

With all the ups and downs in Sanjay's life, did playing the character take an emotional toll on Ranbir? To this, the Rockstar actor said, "I was very excited to play this part. So, it doesn't bother you that much. But when I was acting, I was really imagining what he must be going through because I am just acting in the film putting make-up on and stuff. So just thinking about what Sanju sir must be going through was such an inspiration for me that the film was fairly easy. And also to have an incredible cast and Rajkumar Hirani around me... everything was smooth sailing."

PHOTO: TWITTER/RAJKUMAR HIRANI

In the trailer, the makers of the time have revealed that Sanjay had 308 girlfriends at one point in his life.

Asked whether he will reveal the number of girlfriends if he ever had a biopic made on his life, Ranbir said, "No. I actually won't allow. I don't think I am a courageous man like Sanju to give my life out so openly. But my count has been less than 10, so people can't make a biopic on me."

PHOTO: TWITTER/RAJKUMAR HIRANI

Ranbir's father and veteran actor Rishi Kapoor had previously praised the young actor's work when he had watched the trailer of Sanju for the first time. Did that make him emotional?

"Besides being my father, he is also an actor whom I really admire and respect, so when Rajkumar Hirani recorded his reaction and sent it to me, that time I was shooting for another project," shared Ranbir. "My father never tells me I have done a good job to my face. Not that I am expecting that, but when you hear such words from him not only because he is my father but also he is an actor I love, it was incredible."

PHOTO: TWITTER/RAJKUMAR HIRANI

Ranbir continued, "It really moved me and made me emotional because every father wants his son to do well but my father is very careful that he doesn't give compliments for free. He always tells me that you need to improve and work harder, so this was a wonderful gift."

Sanju is produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The film is releasing on June 29.

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