Ranveer Singh became an overnight sensation as the Dilhi Da Munda in his debut film Band Bajaa Baraat.
The critics and the filmmakers took note of the newbie who played Bittu Sharma so well. So he's a hit as a Dilli boy, but can he do something different?
His second film will be crucial. The filmmakers are waiting to see if he is a one- trick pony or if he is an all-rounder. But looks like the wait will be long.
Still in character
In his second film Ladies Versus Ricky Bahl, Ranveer is back inhabiting the Delhi belly. He plays a Delhi boy again, and has been asked by Yashraj to "hold on to that Dilliwala accent and that abrasive insolent attitude."
Which won't be a problem as he hasn't yet snapped out of character and still continues to walk, talk and behave like his BBB character.
His decision to play the 'same' character again has led to some stress with filmmakers who want to cast him.
They are all wondering if he can pull off other characters other than the Delhi dude with a thick accent. The thought lurking in everyone's head is: Can Ranveer play characters other than 'Bittu Sharma/ Ricky Bahl'?
Problem toh hai
Is Ranveer really trapped in his debut character? Habib Faizal wrote Band Baaja Baaraat confirms that the actor is indeed facing problems getting out of character.
"Yes, he hasn't left Bittu behind. Even his text messages are strewn with Delhi colloquialisms. That's because he is a method actor. He got so much into his character that he finds it hard to get out of it.
Throughout the making of the film he rode the Delhi buses, ate at roadside stalls, visited the colleges mingled with the local people.
By the end of the film he had become one with his character. Naturally, he now finds it hard to abandon 'Bittu Sharma'."
Let him be!
But Habib feels the lad will find a way out of his first character as soon as he signs a third film. "I'm sure his preparation for the second film would be as intense as the first.
He will snap out of it. Ranveer is a Bandra boy. But at the moment he's very much the Delhi boy." And will remain so for one more year at least.