Ranveer Singh unable to leave Bittu behind

By Subhash K. Jha -

May 4, 2011 - 6:51 AM IST

There is more excitement in Delhi for the shooting of Maneesh Sharma's Ladies V/S Ricky Bahl than expected. Apparently, Ranveer Singh keeps slipping into his character Bittu's accent from his debut film Band Baaja Baraat, leading to much amusement and some annoyance among the unit.

Ranveer Singh's character Ricky Bahl in Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl is actually based on someone the writer Habib Faizal knew in his growing days in Delhi. And Ricky Bahl is not the only hero in a Yash Raj Film to be based on the same character.

Ranveer Singh unable to leave Bittu behind

Abhishek Bachchan in Shaad Ali's Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom which Habib Faizal wrote was also based on the same character and even had the same name.

Habib doesn't deny the similarities, "Yes, Abhishek's character in Jhoom Baraabar Jhoom was named Ricky Thukral. Ranveer I've named Rick Bahl. Are they similar? They might be. They are both creations of the same mind. I grew up surrounded by Buntys and Rickys in Delhi. It's important to use the spoken language that one hears around oneself for the characters."

While writing Ranveer's second character, Habib made a concerted effort to make them sound different. "Ranveer's Bittu and Ricky both have their linguistic peculiarities. They both speak the way I think they should. I often see the characters in our films speaking a language that no one speaks any more. I can guarantee you that Ranveer will sound as conversational and real in Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl as he did in Band Baaja Baraat."

Though Habib has given Ricky Bahl his own speech patterns, Ranveer is still somewhere stuck on Bittu in Band Baaja Baraat. It was hoped that the rigorous workshops in the last few weeks would flush Bittu out of Ranveer.

Defends Habib, "It isn't Ranveer's fault. We had workshops for him to get into his new character. But the shooting began immediately after. There was no time for him to absorb his new character."

Says the writer Habib Faizal, "I think somewhere Bittu has become a part of Ranveer's persona. But he's a brilliant character. And I'm sure we'll see a different side of him as Ricky Bahl. I am waiting for the day when Ranveer's SMSes begin to echo the speaking patterns of Ricky."

Easier said than done. Habib is now in the process of writing a third film for Ranveer which would take him completely away from the Bittu-Ricky zone.

Says Habib, "As a writer and as a director it is challenging for me to move away from whatever I've already attempted. The film that I'm directing after Do Dooni Char will be diametrically different in culture spirit and content. I don't want to be branded the Delhi specialist."