“Get lifted off the ground by trespassing arms”: Shefali Shah recalls first meeting with Ranveer Singh amid ‘Dhurandhar 2’ success
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 1 (ANI): Actress Shefali Shah recalled how Ranveer Singh lifted her up during their very first meeting, as she penned a heartfelt note praising him amid the success of 'Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge', calling him "pure heart."
Ranveer Singh is currently basking in acclaim for his performance in the spy thriller, directed by Aditya Dhar, in which he plays Hamza Ali Mazari and Jaskirat Singh Rangi. Several actors and viewers have described his performance as among the best of his career.
Shefali Shah, who played Ranveer's mother in 'Dil Dhadakne Do', recounted their first interaction during the dance rehearsal of 'Galla Gudiyan' in Mumbai. Sharing a clip from an awards function where Ranveer lifted her on stage, she wrote on Instagram, "The first time I met @ranveersingh was exactly like this. I was at the dance rehearsal of Galla Gudiyan in a studio in Bombay, all the actors were pouring in while I stood at the side, trying to be invisible, giving awkward smiles and greeting all."
She added, "And suddenly, from behind, I get lifted off the ground by trespassing arms. I was ready to snap when I heard a super excited voice gushing, "Shefu, let's make a kick ass film."... it was Ranveer. This was our very first interaction. And just like that, we became a team. That's Ranveer, and that's why I adore him so much. He has no filters. His ability to feel emotions and express them in all honesty is absolutely childlike."
Shefali shared that Ranveer's energy, enthusiasm, and warmth are infectious. "His energy, enthusiasm and warmth are infectious. His passion for people, for anything he does, is infallible. Ran (I call him that out of affection), he treats you like you are important, and that's very heartwarming. He's 100% a team player. He knows the importance of every character, & he knows when to step back & just be a support to someone else, and that takes immense security & a deeper understanding that a film is a collaborative effort, not a certificate of individual achievements."
Released in 2015, Zoya Akhtar's directorial 'Dil Dhadakne Do' features Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Ranveer Singh, Farhan Akhtar and Anushka Sharma.
"Once, after the release of DDD, he had gone to the theatres on the sly & he messaged me after to yet again compliment me on my work. And his compliments, or rather nothing about him, is contained. He's not polite, politically correct, formal, or put on. He is absolutely genuine, someone who feels immensely and expresses it unabashedly as a person and as an actor. I'm a huge fan of Ranveer the actor. If he's in a film or even an ad, I'll watch it just for him. He is simply one of the finest actors there is. and consistently so. His performances are so layered, and yet he makes it seem so simple and effortless," she wrote in the post.
Highlighting his genuineness, Shefali said, "Once, after the release of DDD, he had gone to the theatres on the sly & he messaged me after to yet again compliment me on my work. And his compliments, or rather nothing about him, is contained. He's not polite, politically correct, formal, or put on. He is absolutely genuine, someone who feels immensely and expresses it unabashedly as a person and as an actor. I'm a huge fan of Ranveer the actor. If he's in a film or even an ad, I'll watch it just for him. He is simply one of the finest actors there is. and consistently so. His performances are so layered, and yet he makes it seem so simple and effortless."
Shefali also praised his craft and mentioned different characters played by him in his films, saying, "And that's the beauty. Not once do you see Ranveer Singh the actor or his impeccable craft. All you see is his honesty, vulnerability, and rawness. And All you see is the character. Whether it's Bajirao, Kapil Dev, Khilji, Jaskirat, or Hamza. Ranveer is pure heart and sheer madness. And that is exactly where his magic lies."
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Talking about Ranveer Singh starrer 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge', strong box office run and widespread industry acclaim have positioned the film as one of the biggest cinematic successes of 2026, with the film crossing the Rs 800 crore mark within just two weeks of its release on March 19.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, the action drama has garnered praise from audiences, politicians, and film personalities alike. The film stars Ranveer Singh in the lead role, alongside an ensemble cast including Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, and Rakesh Bedi. Actress Yami Gautam also appears in a cameo. (ANI)
