Rakul Preet Singh Exclusive Interview: “I Don’t Want To Fall In Love With A Married Man”

She may not have a huge fandom in the Hindi belt, but Rakul Preet Singh is a force to reckon with in the Telugu film industry. Hindi audiences know her for her debut role in T-Series Films’ coming-of-age romance drama, Yaariyan (2014). But with the success of her latest film De De Pyaar De (2019), Rakul is set to find millions admires in the Hindi-speaking territory.

De De Pyaar De, a romantic comedy written by Luv Ranjan, is busy minting a lot of moolah at the cast counter. The film also stars seasoned actors Ajay Devgn and Tabu in principal roles, but Rakul Preet Singh has been equally heralded for her terrific performance in the Akiv Ali directorial affair.

In this interview with STARBIZ correspondent Mohnish Singh, gorgeous Rakul Preet Singh opens up about working with talented actors Ajay Devgn and Tabu, her take on love, her celebrity crush and much more. Excerpts...

In De De Pyaar De, you played a girl who falls for a man who is double her age. Can you really love someone like him in real life?

I don’t know. I am just waiting to fall in love. I am unable to find a man who is my age. So, if I happen to meet someone older, I might just fall in love with him. I don’t know. I am waiting to fall in love, but there is nobody.

Having said that, I don’t want to fall in love with a married man, who is happy in his marriage. In De De Pyaar De, the situation is very different.

You romanced superstar Ajay Devgn in De De Pyaar De. How difficult was it for you?

It was not difficult at all. He is such a seasoned actor and such a professional. I think he made everything comfortable for me. I can only give my hundred percent if that ice-breaking happens. Ajay sir was very easy to work with. He has no air about who he is. He was very comfortable and very happy on the sets. On the sets, there were always happy vibes. Even Tabu ma’am is very chill. So, the whole set was a very easy ride for me.

What was it like working with someone as talented as Tabu?

As I said, she is also extremely nice to work with. We used to have a lot of fun on the sets. There was no point where I felt I was relatively a newcomer or I was sidelined. Especially in a film like De De Pyaar De, it is very important to have a good equation with both of them because I have to show the chemistry between me and Ajay sir and then, I have to be one up on Tabu ma’am character as well. So, obviously, there has to be that comfort and they should never feel like I was a newcomer.

Did you take any acting tips from her?

No, I did not trouble her (smiles). However, when you work with good actors, you subconsciously learn a lot from them. You end up pushing yourself and give your hundred percent. See, acting is all about action and reaction. When there is a strong artist in front of you, you also double up your performance without even realizing it. I am sure that happened to me as well in the film. But, yes, subconsciously you learn a lot of things when you work with actors who know their craft so well.

Was it at all intimidating to work with two National film award-winners?

No, I did not feel intimidated because it was not my first film. I cannot say about anybody else, but, for me, it was not intimidating. I am a person who gets more excited when there are challenges. Acting is what I always wanted to do in life. When I set out to become an actress, I wanted to work with bigger actors; I wanted to work with bigger stars. I always wait for such opportunities. But if that opportunity brings in nervous energy, then why am I here? I don’t deserve to be here, I feel. So, I, in fact, get excited to see how well I can hold my ground in front of someone who is such a great actor.

How did you react when Luv Ranjan narrated this script to you?

I remember, when Luv sir met me and narrated the script to me, he said to me, “Decide and let me know. I feel if you work with two solid actors and if people notice you, then that will be an achievement.”

I was emotional and overwhelmed by how people actually reacted to the trailer. Some people even messaged me and said, “Wow!” So, it was a very emotional moment for me and I recollected what Luv sir had said to me after the narration. I messaged him and thanked him for giving me Ayesha’s character.

After Yaariyan (2014) and Aiyaary (2018), De De Pyaar De is your third Hindi film. Why did not we see you in more Bollywood films in between?

I have done 17 films in Telugu in between. It just so happened. I did not plan anything. My first Telugu film released two months before Yaariyan released. I started working on my Telugu film after I started working on Yaariyan, but it released earlier. Because my first Telugu film became such a huge hit that I was packed with work before Yaariyan released.

I did sign a Hindi film after Yaariyan. It was called Shimla Mirchi. It had Rajkummar Rao opposite me. It was produced by Ramesh Sippy, but that did not release. Then I was supposed to do Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016), but dates did not work out. I had signed the film and everything was done, but there were some last-minute changes in shooting dates. I was shooting with Ram Charan, Allu Arjun and Mahesh Babu at the same time, so there was no way I could have changed my dates. Then I did Aiyaary. Before Aiyaary released, I signed De De Pyaar De. Before De De Pyaar De, I signed Marjaavaan. So, I am trying to balance as much as possible.

In Telugu film N.T.R: Kathanayakudu (2019), you played Sridevi. How was it playing her on screen?

It was very special, even though it was just a special appearance and I had to shoot for only 4-5 days. But the fact that I got to play her – and it was the first time when someone played her - was overwhelming. I can never be her. She is the only one. The fact that I got to project myself like her is an achievement for me. I had a very good time.

Did you ever meet her before her demise?

I met her once at an award function. It was for a fleeting moment.

Did you ever have any celebrity crush?

I have said it so many times that Ranveer Singh is one of my celebrity crushes. If I have to choose a celebrity who I have a crush on, it has to be him. Having a crush is fine. When he debuted with Band Baaja Baaraat (2010), I was like, “Wow, man! He is such a performer”. It was the first time I ever had a celebrity crush and Ranveer also knows it.

If you are offered a film opposite him, would you love to do it?

Of course, I would. I’ll sign it even without reading the script.

De De Pyaar De is running successfully in cinemas.