INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightGetty ImagesBollywood actor Ranveer Singh has established himself as one of India's most bankable stars, delivering a series
But he also regularly grabs the headlines for his unconventional sartorial sense.While waiting for Singh to enter a suite in a plush Berlin
hotel for an interview, the only thing I'm thinking about is what he will be wearing.Singh has a reputation for his unpredictable dress
He never fails to surprise the press and his fans with his outfits
This meeting is no different.As the doors open, I see him appear in a jacket that can only be described as a cross between Sulley from
and Big Bird from Sesame Street."Check out my badges," Singh says after greeting me with a bear hug
"It's a very special Manish Arora creation
Look at the unicorn on the back."Image Copyright ranveersinghranveersinghA prominent Indian fashion designer, Arora has made a name for
himself for his bold silhouettes and bright colour palette
Before I have time to respond, Singh gives me more details about his custom piece."He [Arora] doesn't make menswear
I hassled and chased him so much to make me a jacket."Singh's enthusiasm is contagious
I don't know much about fashion but I'm listening intently to every word he's saying.Later that day, I'm overwhelmed again by another one of
his looks."This is Tom Ford," he tells me on the red carpet for the world premiere of his new movie Gully Boy.He is wearing a hot pink
leopard print blazer with a shiny black polo neck shirt underneath.Singh has carefully crafted this look - and he wants the
compliments.Image copyrightGetty Images"It is approved by the fashion icon of India, Mr Karan Johar, himself," he says.One of Bollywood's
most well-known producers and directors, Johar is also notorious for his grandiose sense of fashion
In November, when Singh married superstar Deepika Padukone, there was as much interest in his outfits as in hers
The couple wore co-ordinated clothes for most of their wedding ceremonies.Arguably, no other actor could pull off these looks
However, Singh was not always this confident.Eccentric outfits"For the first three years after I made my film debut, I was still trying to
conform," he told the TheIndianSubcontinent.Singh first appeared on screen in the 2010 sleeper hit Band Baaja Baaraat
He received rave reviews for his performance as a young, passionate wedding planner
At the time, Singh looked like most other actors his age, often dressing in conventional suit and tie for red carpet events
"I was still trying to mould myself like what I thought a rising Hindi film hero should be like; how he would speak, what he would do, how
he would dress."He adds that he was very "confused" during his initial years in the industry
"I was becoming someone who I really wasn't."But today, Singh is known as one of the most outrageous personalities in Bollywood
His eccentric outfits and playful personality are like nothing Bollywood audiences have seen before
In 2012, he had a major back injury on the sets of his movie Lootera which left him homebound for two and a half months.Image
copyrightGetty Images"I still had so much to do and it was all slipping out of my hands
That's when I realised that this isn't me."While promoting that movie, Singh unleashed his true self on to the world
Subverting gender norms"From there, my choices started to become more authentic
Whatever came in to my heart, I said, I did, I wore."By 2015, Singh was wearing skirts during movie promotions
Two years later, he turned up with kohl eye make-up to a major awards ceremony.Singh's wardrobe choices were a gamble
The majority of Bollywood actors before him had dressed fairly conventionally
But he is unapologetic about his attire.Through his outfits, he has achieved something fairly unusual
He's managed to slowly subvert or change the ideas around men's clothes and the way they should dress - he's opened up this space, showing
men how they can get away with sporting some eyeliner or pulling off an all-pink suit
Image copyrightGetty Images"As time passes my expression is becoming more unfiltered and I'm presenting an authentic version of myself
I'm happy being like this."Most of his looks are curated by his stylist Nitasha Gaurav who says his "fearlessness" is unmatched.Alongside
his risky fashion sense, his choice of roles and movies has also helped him stand out
Ground-breaking charactersIn director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period epic Padmaavat, Singh played the main antagonist, a character who was
The role was seen as a "huge risk" for any actor, but he was praised for his performance when the film released in January 2018
Image Copyright ranveersinghranveersinghIn Singh's latest film, Gully Boy, he plays an aspiring rapper from the slums of Mumbai, who is
extremely conflicted between duty and passion, often seen breaking down into tears
It's a display of vulnerability and softness that is fairly unusual in the way men are often portrayed in Bollywood
Image copyrightGetty ImagesHe says "it's not easy" to share so much of himself through his performances."It's particularly difficult when
you get brickbats for just giving
People saying 'it's too much, why don't you just curb your enthusiasm' It hurts."Some critics have called his outlandish behaviour
over-the-top and unnecessary
Singh ignores the criticism as long as his fans appreciate it."When people show that kind of love for you, I want to give that back."
