From serving coffee to serving blockbusters—Ranveer Singh has come a long way.
Bollywood powerhouse Ranveer Singh turns 40 today! Known for his daring film choices, flamboyant fashion sense, and larger-than-life personality, Ranveer has carved a unique space for himself in the Indian film industry. He burst onto the scene with a lead role in Yash Raj Films’ ‘Band Baaja Baaraat’, a performance that earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. Since then, there’s been no looking back. A recipient of multiple accolades, including five Filmfare Awards, Singh has emerged as a powerhouse in Indian cinema, admired for his infectious energy.
But do you know where it all began?
Here's a surprising fact: Before the fame, Ranveer Singh worked part-time at Starbucks while studying in the U.S. Let’s take a closer look at this lesser-known fact of his journey.
Ranveer Singh always dreamed of becoming an actor. From school plays to debate competitions, he was always drawn to the stage. But reality hit when he joined H.R. College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai—he realised breaking into Bollywood wasn’t going to be easy. Thinking his acting dreams were “too far-fetched,” he shifted gears and focused on creative writing instead.
He then moved to the U.S. and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Telecommunications from Indiana University Bloomington in 2008, where he also minored in theatre and took acting classes. While studying in Indiana, Ranveer Singh worked part-time at Starbucks, serving coffee to earn some extra pocket money. He revealed this fun tidbit in 2013 during his appearance on Karan Johar’s popular talk show ‘Koffee With Karan’, where he was joined by his ‘Gunday’ co-star, Arjun Kapoor.
Like every artist with big dreams, Ranveer had his share of struggles. After returning to Mumbai, he worked as a copywriter in advertising and even tried his hand as an assistant director. But his heart remained in acting. Determined, he started sending out his portfolio and auditioned wherever he could—but the roles offered were small and forgettable.
Then came his big break. In 2010, Aditya Chopra cast him in ‘Band Baaja Baaraat’—a role that changed everything.
Since then, Ranveer Singh has delivered one powerhouse performance after another, in films like ‘Lootera’, ‘Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela’, ‘Bajirao Mastani’, ‘Padmaavat’, ‘Gully Boy’, and ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’. With each role, he has proven himself as an amazing actor.
