I’ve been saving my brand virginity for the right one, says Ranveer Singh, the first bolly actor to endorse a condom brand

THE BRAND: Durex Condoms THE STAR: Ranveer Singh

Rewind to the previous season of Koffee with Karan: in what was one of the most controversial episodes of Karan Johar’s celebrity chat show, Deepika Padukone, still smarting from her bitter break-up with Ranbir Kapoor, had suggested that her former beau start endorsing condoms (read: Ranbir’s constant philanderings).

On Tuesday, Ranveer Singh, rumoured to be Deepika’s current beau, became the first Bolly star to sign on as the face and (body) of a condom brand, the Ram-Leela actor’s first endorsement deal in his four-year career.

But Ranveer, known for his flamboyance and flashy lifestyle, wasn’t the first Bolly star to be approached by the condom major. Arjun Rampal pulled out after not being paid his quoted fee of Rs 6-crore and Serial Kisser Emraan Hashmi, known to be quite the family man off screen, gave it a pass.

Then, Ranveer decided to take the plunge. In the Gunday man’s own words: “The idea behind my association with Durex is to create awareness around sexual wellbeing, promote safe sex and have fun while doing it.”

Go for it, boy!

SHE BEFORE HE!

Pooja Bedi

In 1991, Pooja Bedi — till then just known as Kabir Bedi’s daughter — made India grow up in a hurry when she signed up to endorse Kamasutra condoms. The steamy ad shot in a shade of blue and showing Pooja and model Marc Robinson under a shower became the talking point. It remains Pooja’s biggest claim to fame.

Sunny Leone

“The best thing about coffee is...you can enjoy it anywhere.” Manforce condoms made coffee a euphemism for sex, with Sunny Leone turning it on in a 30-seconder. The former porn star seductively bites into a strawberry and sips on coffee. Now who can resist that?