Ranveer Singh with mother Anju Bhavnani and wife Deepika Padukone.
Mumbai:
Ranveer Singh new movie Jayeshbhai Jordar, This Weekend, is comical in tone but the subject it deals with is of the utmost seriousness – feticide. The actor starred as Jayeshbhai, a gentle Gujarati father with a daughter on the way. As he told NDTV, Jayeshbhai had to stand up to his father and others to abort the unborn child and Ranveer is fully qualified to take on the patriarchy “raised by women”. In fact, he has a list of “strong feminine powers” in his life – wife Deepika Padukone and mother Anju Bhavnani, but also his grandmother, sister Ritika and mother-in-law Ujjala Padukone.
In his interview to NDTV, Ranveer Singh spoke about growing up surrounded by female influences. Ranveer said, “Probably the biggest blessing of my life is that I have angels all around me.” , my sister who is like a second mother to me, and now Deepika, my mother-in-law. These strong feminine forces around me empower me, you know, they uplift me, they protect me, they’re my angels, they’re my source of energy and power and joy.”
Ranveer told NDTV, “Whatever I am, I am because of them, and brought up by women… I grew up sensitive.”
As Jayeshbhai Jordar, Ranveer is very much on the female side of the patriarchal divide; The role gave him a deeper understanding of fatherhood and, in particular, his father Jagjit Bhavnani. “My dad was always on the hunt to be the protector and provider and it’s through Jayeshbhai Jordar, that I have deep admiration, love and respect for him that I have never had before. Because I have not become a father yet but I am playing the role of a father. So in order to get to the depths of that character, I was drawn to parts of my life, the components of my life, where I would have experienced it, and back on my way. Dad has been a man who does everything in his power and ability and uses every effort and energy to be the best protector and provider for his family,” said Ranveer.
Boman Irani plays Ranveer’s father Ramlal Patel onscreen, with whom Jayesh must battle to save the life of his other daughter. The cast includes Shalini Pandey as Jayesh’s pregnant wife and Ratna Pathak Shah as his mother.
Directed by Divyang Thakkar, Jayeshbhai Jordar Releasing this Friday.