Ranveer Singh’s star value may have seen its share of highs and lows, but when it comes to his craft as an actor, it’s been a steady climb with only highs, no lows.
In the last five years, things haven’t quite gone Ranveer Singh’s way. Barring 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani', all his films have either tanked at the box office, failed to win over critics, or worse, both. As the flops piled up, so did the consequences. Big films being planned with him got shelved. Studios backed out. Several brands stepped away. And there’s a visible dip in the buzz around his professional life. Right now, he is at his lowest in terms of market share, where even the industry seems unsure of what to do with him. However, I don't care about any of this. Because I believe that "form is temporary, class is permanent". While the star may be going through a lull, the actor in him hasn’t dipped for a second. How a film performs is beyond an actor’s control. What is in their control is how they show up in front of the camera. And in that department, Ranveer has always been phenomenal. Right from his debut in 'Band Baaja Baaraat', he has only shapeshifted effortlessly between roles, proving again and again that he has got range, and more importantly, a rare understanding of what each film demands. People have often said he “overacts,” but that’s a lazy take. He doesn’t overdo it; he just knows how much to do, and when. In a loud, over-the-top film, he goes all in. In an emotional one, he pulls back and goes subtle. That kind of instinctive calibration only comes from a deep command over the craft.
So on Ranveer's 40th birthday, let's stop talking about stardom and all, and instead, celebrate the journey of an actor who has never stopped evolving.
It feels like in today’s Bollywood, no one quite embodies the “Dilli da munda” vibe like Ranveer Singh. He brings that unmistakable mix of swagger and street-smart charm that makes the persona feel both authentic and unforgettable. In 'Band Baaja Baaraat', he played a wedding planner with an irresistible energy. He nailed every trait of a middle-class Delhi guy: loud, funny, full of charm, and always ready with a comeback. Bittoo felt real, like the guy you knew from college who always had a hustle going. In 'Ladies vs Ricky Bahl', he turned that same Delhi energy into a charming conman who could slip into different identities with ease. Then came 'Dil Dhadakne Do', where he played an entitled, restless rich kid from an elite Delhi family, who was still funny and sharp, but now there was a new layer of polish and restraint. And then in 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani', he gave us a West Delhi gym bro with a gold chain and a heart even bigger. Loud on the outside, but surprisingly tender on the inside. The emotional beats, especially his confrontations with family, showed just how far he (the actor) has come.
If his Delhi roles are all about energy, Ranveer’s subtle performances reveal an ability to let silence do the talking. In 'Lootera', he played a conman pretending to be an archaeologist. Regret, love, guilt... he said it all without raising his voice. The final scene, where his character collapses in the snow, is one of his most hauntingly beautiful moments on screen. In 'Gully Boy', he surprised us once again. As Murad, the slum-born rapper chasing a dream, Ranveer gave a performance full of nuances. The rap sequences were all fire, but it was the still moments that stayed with us. In '83', he transformed into Kapil Dev with eerie precision, using posture, body language, and a subtle shift in accent to bring the cricketer’s strength to life. With these roles, Ranveer showed that he can make a big impact without the big gestures too. He knows how to hold a pause and let a look carry the weight of a scene.
Put Ranveer Singh in a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film, and well, it's magic happening. The director’s cinematic worlds are larger than life, and Ranveer fits into them like a boss. Their partnership began with 'Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela', where Ranveer played a wild-hearted Romeo brimming with passion. Throughout the film, his performance walked the line between wild and wounded with style. In 'Bajirao Mastani', he stepped into the shoes of a warrior torn between love and duty. The physicality, the voice modulation, and the heartbreak all felt epic, yet deeply human. And then in 'Padmaavat', he delivered one of his boldest performances as Alauddin Khilji. He played the villain with such intensity that you couldn’t look away, even when you wanted to. These films show he knows how to go big without losing the emotional core. He matches the grandeur of SLB's vision with sincerity, ensuring his characters feel real even in the most extravagant frames.
Ranveer’s over-the-top energy finds its true space in Bollywood’s masala universe. In 'Gunday', he was all fire as a swaggering gangster with a soft heart. It was retro masala, and Ranveer jumped in with both feet. 'Simmba' was a full commercial entertainer where he played a corrupt cop turned hero. His slow-mo walk, the cheeky one-liners, and the emotional transformation were all dialled up to eleven, and the audience loved it. Even in the chaotic 'Cirkus', his commitment to the slapstick mayhem was absolutely unparalleled. And let’s not forget his brief appearance in 'Sooryavanshi', where he stole the show in just a few minutes. Back in 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani', his Rocky with all his loud fashion and louder emotions felt like a culmination of everything he has learned about playing big while staying grounded. The Kathak scene alone is a masterclass in campy brilliance with heart.
Credit: Saregama Music
What makes Ranveer special in these films is his lack of self-consciousness. He goes all in. Because he understands that masala cinema works only when the actor believes in its madness.
In 'Sanju', there’s that moment when the entire media is shouting that Sanjay Dutt’s career is over. Then, after 'Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.' (a massive hit, awards, and all), Sunil Dutt takes a paper that reads “Finished” after Sanjay Dutt, and writes over it: Not Finished. Right now, people are saying similar things about Ranveer Singh. But with 'Dhurandhar', I believe he’ll have his own Not Finished moment.
Happy Birthday!
