No Romance in Rocket Singh

The gift of the gab he apparently has is seldom practiced on the female of species unless he’s of course giving one of his sales spiels. Harpreet Singh, after graduating with rather embarrassing marks, is the unstoppable salesman who has no time for love in this Friday’s movie Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year.

Though the character, played by Ranbir Kapoor, has his fair share of interaction with the fairer sex - in the shapely forms of newcomer Shazahn Padamsee and Gauhar Khan - the focus in the film is not on his romance.

“It is not a love story. The character Rocket Singh is in love with sales. It's a very simple movie,” Ranbir told a news agency while promoting the film.

Ranbir said that getting into the skin of his character required more than just growing a beard and putting on a turban.

“It was very important to feel the character first, later you automatically start living him,” he said.

To make Ranbir feel the character and to get the other nitty-gritty in place, director Shimit Amin and writer Jaideep Sahni held a workshop for 30 days before beginning to shoot the film.

Playing the role also gave Ranbir an insight into the Sikh religion and lifestyle. Though himself a half Sikh (his nani comes from a Sikh family) Ranbir admits he didn’t understand the religion much before he did the film.

“I am half sikh though I didn't understand the religion like I do after doing this film. I respect the sacrifices they made and the discipline they have in their religion,” he said.

After the success of Wake Up Sid and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, Ranbir hopes to strike a hat-trick with ‘Rocket Singh’, which is a Yashraj Films presentation.

“As an actor I would like every film of mine to do well,” he said.