Six years of Gully Boy! Ranveer Singh on playing a rapper in the musical drama

As Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt starrer Gully Boy clocks in six years today, the former looks back at the role he played in Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti directorial. Inspired by the lives of Indian street rappers Divine and Naezy, the film is a coming-of-age story about aspiring street rapper Murad Ahmed (Singh), from the Dharavi slums of Mumbai.

For the actor, it was his love for Mumbai, and for hip-hop which became a huge factor for him to sign Gully Boy. As he looks back, he fondly talks about his character from the film, saying, “The character’s essence resonated deeply with me. Just as he dreamed of being a rapper despite unfavorable circumstances. I always wanted to be an actor. His perseverance mirrored my own journey.” He called the film “one of my most rewarding experiences” and expressed gratitude to Zoya Akhtar for the opportunity.

In an earlier chat with the media, Ranveer, who feels attached to the city of Mumbai said, “A lot of people who know me a little say that the role was perfect for me or tailor-made for me and I will tell you why, because it was a combination of a lot of things that resonate with me very, very deeply. One is my love for Mumbai, I am a bonafide Mumbai lad so my love for the city where I am born - yeh meri karm bhoomi hai, janam bhoomi hai. So, it means a lot to me and I am very proud of my city, mahanagri isse kehte hain and I see all the beautiful aspects of it and I wanted to lay tribute to it if the opportunity were to come about and Gully Boy was that perfect opportunity.”