Lata Mangeshkar to help Ranbir
To play a legend like
Kishore Kumar requires tremendous research if you want to get it right.
Ranbir Kapoor, who plays the legendary singer in his biopic, isn't about
to risk hitting a wrong note. So he has decided to take notes from Lata
Mangeshkar, who has sung innumerable duets with Kishoreda. Incidentally,
Ranbir not only shares a passion for music and cinema with Lataji, the
two also share the same birthday (September 28). And, of course, Lataji
was very close to Ranbir's grand-dad Raj Kapoor.
A close friend of Ranbir
says, "Ranbir is a big fan of Kishore Kumar (KK). His happiest moment as
an actor was when he got to yodel like KK in Saawariya and when he danced
to a remix of KK's Bachna ae haseenon. This is Ranbir's first biographical
character. He doesn't want to impersonate the legendary singer. He wants
to understand the inner life of Kishore Kumar. He's reading up all the
information on KK on the internet and intends to meet all the people who
knew the singer well, including Lata Mangeshkar, who was a close friend
and associate of KK."
Ranbir is currently recharging
his batteries with a break of one-and-a-half months. Thereafter, it's going
to be a full two years of challenging films ahead for Ranbir, and that
too in roles which require rigorous preparation. Even as he is getting
a hang of the guitar strings for his role of the rock musician in Imtiaz
Ali's Rock Star he is polishing up on sign language for the role of the
deaf-mute in Anurag Basu's film. And of course, the young actor is also
getting ready for the biggest challenge of his career so far. Towards the
year-end, he is taking three months off to prepare for his role after he
completes his pending assignments.
Ranbir has never been
more excited about any role. Says the friend, "Ranbir is excited about
getting it right. He has watched his dad Rishi Kapoor emote and dance to
innumerable Kishore Kumar numbers. Ranbir's favourite songs that his dad
featured in are Oh hanseeni from Zehreela Insaan and Om Shanti Om from
Karz ."
Ranbir's music-listening
time is now monopolized by Kishore Kumar songs, and not just the ones the
ebullient legend sang for Ranbir's dad. "Ranbir's iPod is filled with Kishore
Kumar's songs from the 1950s to the last songs Kishore sang before his
premature death," adds Ranbir's friend.
Commenting on his first
biographical role, Ranbir says, "It's too early to talk about that project.
But yes, I'm going to work very hard to get it right."
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