The much-discussed Netflix docu-series `The Romantics`, a tribute to the legacy of Yash Chopra & YRF and their cultural impact on India and the Indians over the past 50 years, released on February 14 to unanimous acclaim and worldwide love.
The national outburst of love for Yash Chopra and YRF was evident when ‘The Romantics’ became the No. 1 trending title on Netflix within 48 hours of its release, a rare feat for a documentary. ‘The Romantics’ is also in the Top 10 trending shows in 9 countries including Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Mauritius, Pakistan, Qatar, Sri Lanka and UAE.
In the critically acclaimed docu-series ‘The Romantics’, Anushka Sharma, Ranveer Singh and Bhumi Pednekar talk about how Yash Raj Films has always supported outsiders and prepared them to showcase their genius to the world!
Ranveer, who made his debut in YRF’s cult hit ‘Band Baaja Baaraat’ which turned him into a star overnight, says: “I wanted to be an actor ever since I can remember. There is nothing that fascinated me more than Hindi movies. Just imagine like this slightly overweight child, sitting on the floor in front of the television screen. While all the kids are playing outside, you know. I was just engrossed, enamored, fascinated, wide-eyed. It was a very fascinating world for me.”
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He adds: “However, it was not so easy (to make a debut) because the Hindi film industry was very closed for many years. I’m talking about the turn of the century, you know, 2000, when you looked around and saw everyone was someone’s son, and I thought to myself, ‘My chances are very slim, a million to one’! ”
Ranveer reveals how he felt when YRF gave him his break. He says, “I was like raising, literally, with my hands in the air. I was like yeah, I couldn’t believe I got a call back the same night. They’d never launched a new face. A new male face, until now, so this was unprecedented!”
Anushka Sharma was launched by Aditya Chopra in his blockbuster movie ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’. She reveals: “I came from an absolutely non-movie background. I didn’t know anyone who worked in movies. Not a single person. After a while Adi called me, he said look, I’m definitely going to launch you.
It was huge for someone like me who came from Bangalore, who didn’t grow up in this world.”
Bhumi Pednekar was launched by YRF in the hit ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’. She delivered a breakthrough performance as a debutant after years of being groomed by YRF.
She reveals: “I come from a very very middle class family, middle class background. I worked my way up. My family is very creative, but I don’t come from an actor-movie family. I’ve always wanted to be an actor and I haven’t really told anyone I want to be an actor, it was like a deep dark secret. My job paid me well, I was very good at what I did. I had become a very integral part of the film system.
Bhumi adds, “I debuted as this overweight heroine that is unheard of in India, in a love story that is completely unheard of. But what me and the other YRF heroines had in common was that we had a lot of faith. You know, we had a lot of confidence and we stood for what was right.”
The Romantics is directed by an Oscar and Emmy nominated filmmaker Smriti Mundhra.
