He still cannot believe he is one of the most successful young stars of Bollywood, but one thing which Ranveer Singh is sure about is that his success in the film industry is courtesy his hard work and determination.

The 32-year-old actor, who made his debut in Bollywood with Band Baaja Baaraat (2010), said he took many risks and went through a “routine drill” to get a massive launch by a banner as big as Yash Raj Films.

“I wake up everyday thinking that I am living a dream. I was this young kid obsessed with Hindi movies. I struggled for three years in Mumbai, with my portfolio in my hand. I went through the routine drill. I made my own luck. Ranbir Kapoor said no to Band Baaja Baraat. YRF was looking for a new face, I got a call and I knew this was my opportunity. I kept my face safe and didn’t do modelling or music videos. And then I got a massive launch, essentially for an ‘outsider’, opposite a reasonably recognisable star Anushka Sharma,” Ranveer said.

The actor was in conversation with film critic Rajeev Masand at the News18 Rising India Summit.

Ranveer said his mentor and producer Aditya Chopra had made him aware that he is “not a conventionally good-looking boy”. “He said, ‘My son, you have to act really well if you want people to like you’, which is a polite way to say you are ugly,” Ranveer said.

The actor, however, said the whispers that his father had put in money to launch his Bollywood career were heartbreaking.

Ranveer said by putting faith in him, Chopra set a great example of promoting actors on the basis of talent and not “legacy”. “Aditya Chopra realised the star system was killing the industry at that time. He realised the need of the hour was to give actors a break on the basis of talent and not legacy. He started with Anushka, followed by me. And mine was a great example. A leading man suddenly born out of the sheer auditioning process,” he said.

Ranveer is known for his energetic persona and flamboyance, but the actor said this was not the case when he started out in the industry.

“I was famous three days after my first film released. I didn’t grow up around anybody famous so I was confused how to deal with this beast. This fame or stardom hit me like a truck. I was struggling with that hit for three years till the time I got critical acclaim for Lootera and critical/commercial success of Ram-Leela,” he said.

“Till now, I haven’t realised or believed that I have become a star. Priyanka Chopra, my very dear friend says, ‘You are that boy who will always be telling his mother... Mom I have become a star’.”