Anushka, Ranveer spill beans on their 'friendship'

He thinks she's superior to him; she refuses to understand his work ethos. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, but somehow Bollywood stars Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh seem to make it work.

And this is despite the pages of gossip fodder that has attempted to decipher their alleged off-screen romance.

Currently in Dubai for the world premiere of their Yash Raj release ‘Ladies vs Ricky Bahl’, the duo continued to spar in front of the cameras, yet maintained a professional distance that almost reeked of a discomfort amidst a year fraught with speculation over their relationship status ever since they first came together one year ago for ‘Band Baaja Baraat’.

Taking the bull by its horns, the media savvy Singh didn't shy away from the question about the media intrusion into their personal lives, saying: "Anushka has stopped reading all the negative press that attempts to speculate over out off-screen relationship, but I still pick up such news stories every once in a while.

"Frankly, I don't really care about a lot of the crap that is written  but I do get angry when obnoxious things are written about an alleged physical encounter between the two of us in public places. As a man, I get upset, but for a woman, it is downright derogatory to be written about in the gutter press this way."

Singh believes that the society they live in is conservative, hence some of what is written may be a direct reflection of that.

Yet quizz him who is his best friend in the industry, the actor doesn't shying away from uttering the name of his leading lady.

"Honestly, Shaad Ali (‘Saathiya’ director) is my best friend in
Bollywood, but I would certainly count on Anushka as one of my closest friends in the film fraternity," he said.

The lady in question though isn't too keen about the volley of
personal questions thrown her way.

Dressed in a dapper Sabyasachi black ensemble, the 23-year-old had a different take on all that is written about her in the media, saying: "There is a high chance to get jaded in an industry if you believe all that is said or written about you.

"In fact, this is an industry that has a knack of objectifying people and those who are in the limelight can sometimes start believing that glamour image that they are living in the public eye.

"My philosophy is one that was passed on to me by Aditya Chopra (film director) right when I was about to sign my first film ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ opposite Shah Rukh Khan. He said, don't ever forget the person you were before you sign your first movie and that has helped me hold on to my identity in the face of all that is said and done around me."

Working on their second film as a lead couple, both Singh and Sharma have noticed a marked difference in the way their co-star has grown as an actor.

"I maintain that Anushka is a superior actor to me," said the
diplomatic Singh. "Her working style is more spontaneous, while I need my methodology in rehearsals."

He added: "During ‘Band Baaja Baraat’ days, I would sit for hours rehearsing and re-rehearsing while Anushka would simply read her lines a few times and then would allow her instinct to takeover between action and cut."

"I just don't get Ranveer's work style at all, considering all the
star who I have worked with, from Shah Rukh to Akshay Kumar, all work the same way I do," said an exasperated Sharma. "But it works for him so who am I to complain?"

The duo are firm in their beliefs that they are here to stay in
Bollywood for the long run, with Sharma saying: "I know that acting has been the right career choice for me sitting here today. So I am greedy for good work and the more that comes my way, the better."

The five-film-old star also revealed that one year ago she had created a list of 10 directors she wanted to work with and today she has two in the bag.

"I am working with Yash Chopra and that is truly a dream come true," she said.

The one film old, Singh, has all his hopes riding on ‘Ladies vs Ricky Bahl’ and wants to break that mindset of being a one-hit wonder.

"I want to keep changing myself for every film and do a body of work that I can look back upon and make me proud," he said. "With the encouragement I got from stars such as Shah Rukh, Hrithik Roshan and Govinda after my first film, I know that I am here to stay."

‘Ladies vs Ricky Bahl’ was released across UAE on Thursday.

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