New Delhi: 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' released on July 28, took the theatres by storm. The Karan Johar directorial, starring Ranveer Singh, depicts him as a Delhi guy who falls in love with a Bengali girl (played by Alia Bhatt). To pick up the mannerisms and accents of a West Delhi boy, the actor had to shed his Bombay boy persona and work closely with Delhi-based content creator Yuvraj Dua.


Yuvraj has been creating comedy and satire content on social media for over three years and has a whooping base of 711K+ followers on Instagram. With his content centred on young people and Delhi-related topics, Yuvraj knows how to make his stories relatable for people. 


In a candid conversation with ABP Live, Yuvraj shared his experience preparing Ranveer for the role of Rocky, talked about his visit to Ranveer's home and so much more...


Here are some excerpts from the interview:


Recently you were hired by Dharma to teach Ranveer how to behave like a West Delhi boy. What made you say yes to it?


Because there was nothing to say 'no'. Who can refuse such an offer! These people are the definition of talent. We grew up watching Karan Johar's movies. So, this was a set which had Karan Johar, Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh- I don't think I am such a big person to say 'no' to such a set. It was but obvious, that I will say 'yes' to it.


What was your reaction when you first got the offer?


It was unbelievable, and initially I thought why would they want to hire me in Dharma's set. So, when I got the call I knew that it was something huge and its would be worth it. First, I thought I will just have to talk to Ranveer along with four to five more people and he will catch the accent withing one or two days after which I can come back. But, when he actually saw me talking, he was like- This is pure West Delhi, we need this. So, he told me to come to the set as well and that was one of the rare occasions when I was in tears. Honestly, for the first time it felt like I was actually doing something in life. It felt like a reward.


Why do you think they chose you out of so many people?


There were 4-5 more people that they had shortlisted out of Delhi-based influencers. But yeah, my accent has the maximum Delhi flavour. I am not saying that I am the most Delhite person- but out of all my features, my accent is actually the most Delhi-type. I am also not saying that out of so many influencers I have the best Delhi accent, but on social media if there is someone who does it fluently and very prominently, I think that's me. So, good choice Dharma!


How was your experience working with Ranveer?


I used to realise everyday that compared to them, my own productions are nothing. It was an out of the world experience. It was a differnet universe for me. I had never stayed alone but for this I had to go to Bombay and that helped me grow a lot. In addition to that, I also learnt what actually is work ethics. Karan Johar's vision is huge. It's beyond everything we can think. When you will see the set you'll realise that this is not real world, but it's a fantasy world that Karan Johar has created and that is out of his imagination.


I also learnt a lot from Ranveer- sometimes he would have fun while sometimes he would be in a Ted-Talk-kind of a mood. The biggest thing that I have learnt from Ranveer is obsession with the craft. Earlier even I used to think that I was obsessed with my craft, but when I met him I learnt what is actual obsession. He doesn't work, he lives, eats, breathes acting. 


What do you think about Ranveer's performance in the movie?


He did much beyond the things I taught him. He nailed the accent within the first three days of shoot only. He is not from Delhi that is why this is such a special thingthat he has done, that he has grasped it so well that if no one tells you he is not from Delhi, you won't even question it. 


Do you also want to try in Bollywood or you want to go ahead with comedy sketches only?


Let's take it by the second and the day. I let my mind and body take over. But, then again, there are some questions which have only two options- yes and yes. 


Any memory that has been very special for you while working with Ranveer?


There are a lot of special memories. I loved that he invited me to his house to write and jam on the script. I think it was his office in the building where he lives. So, he first introduced me to his house, then he showed me a place where there were racks stacked with shoes, and there were so many of them! Aaj voh agar voh sab bechne jaay toh aur 100 crore kamaale shayad. In one place therewere only jackets while in another place there were a lot of caps. It was as if a different world. It was unbelievable. So, it was very special when he gave me a house tour. He also showed me and let me hold the bat which Kapil Dev had given him on the sets of '83' and then he gifted me 2 shoes also, which I think is the greatest gesture you can do to someone. 






You had also done an interview with Kajol. So how was it interacting with her?


She was so sweet and she is exactly the way you imagine Anjali from K3G, she is that and much more. She is so bubbly, energetic and wholesome and she makes you feel like you are one of them. We had a lot of fun. I genuinely felt as if I am sitting with my elder sister. 


There are a lot of people who are into comedy content nowadays, how does your content set apart from them?


I think us 90s kids have had a similar trajectory in life. We have drunk the same Roohafza after coming back from school, played the same video games like Mario, Roadrash and I think that is what plays to my advantage. All of us had the same life, so I don't have to create relatability. Relatability is already there, I have to just grab it. So, how the world exists, that is enough for me. I just take that, transform that into a joke, adorn it a bit with spicy words and serve it to my audience. And, I try to keep it very natural. I treat the camera as a friend I am talking to, so the person watching that also feels the same.


Do you want to do stand-up comedy and all later in life?


I don't know actually. But, I love the stage. there is no better feeling than to stand there and receive a 15-second hooting from the crowd after your performance. Fetting live reactions feels really good, and that's why I go to colleges a lot to see the live reactions of people. It is always nice to connect with them and treat them like our own family. So, maybe if my heart says, I will do a stand-up comedy show.