Signed 'Gully Boy' because of original 'Mere Gully Main': Ranveer
What's the story
Gully Boy is one of 2019's most awaited films and actor Ranveer Singh says it was the original Mere Gully Mein track that had him hooked. The actor said he signed the film as the original track 'blew his brains'. The 33-year-old actor plays an up-and-coming rapper who sets out to achieve his dream by rhyming about his life on Mumbai streets. Here's more.
Data
'Gully Boy' is set for a Valentine's Day release
Gully Boy, also featuring Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin and Vijay Raaz, is directed by Zoya Akhtar. It is loosely based on the lives of street rappers Divine (Vivian Fernandez) and Naezy (Naved Shaikh). The film will hit the screens on February 14.
Reason
'Mere Gully Mein was the first thing she showed me'
Ranveer says the original number, created by underground rappers Divine and Naezy, blew him away when he saw its video for the first time. "When Zoya pitched me this film, Mere Gully Mein was the first thing she showed me. She said that this is the flavor of the film I want to make and the video completely blew my brains," he said.
Practice
Mugged up rap, started following Naezy and Divine's music: Ranveer
The actor said that after watching the video, he "mugged up the entire rap" and started "following Naezy and Divine's music." "Mere Gully Mein for me, like for many others, is a huge breakthrough for the scene, the movement that's happening in our society and I'm glad that I was the first one to whom this breakthrough of a song reached," said Ranveer.
Recording
'Divine was there, he was hyping me and guiding me'
The actor, who has recreated Naezy's portion in the album, says incidentally it was the first song he rapped for the album. It was "almost like my test", said the 33-year-old Padmaavat actor. Recalling the recording, he said, "I remember that day at Purple Haze studio; Divine was there, he was hyping me and guiding me. And it happened in the first take."
Rap tracks
Two other tracks from the album have also been released
"Divine loved it, Zoya, who was unsure about my rapping skills at first, loved it and it was decided there and then after I rapped Naezy's verse from Mere Gully Mein that I'd be doing my own voice in the film," Ranveer says. Besides Mere Gully Mein, two other tracks - Asli Hip Hop and Apna Time Aayega - also got released recently.
Simmba's success
Ranveer's last release 'Simmba' earned Rs. 237.50 crore at box-office
Ranveer has lent his voice to a total of four numbers in the film's album. The actor's last release Simmba was a massive hit. The film, which is running successfully in its fourth week, has collected Rs. 237.50 crore at box-office. Ranveer is working for Kabir Khan's sports drama 83, which tells the story of India's incredible 1983 cricket World Cup victory.