the producer had "unleashed his dog on him"
Ranveer Singh is one of Bollywood’s biggest stars but before his debut in Band Baaja Baaraat, he struggled for over three years trying to get work.
He revealed that once, a prominent Bollywood producer set his dog loose on him at his house for fun.
Ranveer attended the Marrakech International Film Festival in Morocco to receive the Etoile d’Or award.
During his appearance, Ranveer also took part in an In Conversation event where he opened up on his Bollywood journey.
Ranveer explained that he spent over three years trying to break into Bollywood.
He decided to pursue acting after a student production while at university studying copywriting.
Ranveer said: “I didn’t have a road map. It was like groping in the dark, flapping my hands and legs and trying to catch hold of something.
“I joined theatre groups. I became an assistant director. I was doing different things within the Bombay film industry to find some kind of lead.
“I spent a lot of time staring at the ceiling wondering, ‘Is it ever going to happen for me?’”
During that time, Ranveer also came into contact with the unsavoury side of the Hindi film industry, including a casting couch experience.
He recalled a prominent Bollywood producer, who has since passed away, invited him to his house for a meeting.
But Ranveer said that the producer had “unleashed his dog on him at a private party for fun”.
The actor added: “This guy calls me to this seedy place and is like, ‘Are you a hard worker, or a smart worker?’.
“I didn’t consider myself to be smart, so I said: ‘I think I’m a hard worker.’ He was like, ‘Darling, be smart, be sexy’.”
“I had all those kinds of experiences during those three-and-a-half years, and I think it was that period that makes me value the opportunities I have now.”
Ranveer Singh said working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali changed his life and his career.
“He moulded me to be the artist I am today.
“I learned so much about films, life, and art from him. For me, there is a before Sanjay Leela Bhansali and an after Sanjay Leela Bhansali.”
After his debut in Band Baaja Baaraat in 2010, he went on to star in blockbusters such as Gully Boy and Padmaavat.
Some of his future projects include Rohit Shetty’s Cirkus and Karan Johar’s directorial comeback Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani.
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