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Riding high on the thunderous success of Dhurandharactor Naveen Kaushik is currently enjoying a wave of excitement and renewed popularity. While the film marks a significant milestone in his career, it is not his first association with mainstream cinema. Naveen has previously appeared in films such as Rocket Singh Salesman of the Year and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, both of which starred Ranbir Kapoor. In a recent conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Naveen reflected on his experiences working with Ranbir and Deepika Padukone, particularly during Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, which marked their first collaboration after their breakup. Addressing the curiosity around their equation on set, Naveen emphasised how professional the two actors were throughout the shoot.
“It was completely professional. Like everyone else, we also thought a fight might break out anytime, and we were almost anticipating that if something happened, we’d witness it and have some gossip to talk about. But nothing like that happened. They were absolutely professional on set. Our shoot was extremely gruelling, not because of long working hours, but because of the locations. We were shooting on very steep mountains, sometimes climbing ten feet straight up, and shooting there. Despite that, there were always parties with the entire cast and crew in between. They were very cordial and very nice.”
Naveen also shared that the off-screen dynamics between the four lead actors, Ranbir, Deepika, Kalki Koechlin, and Aditya Roy Kapur, mirrored the warmth and camaraderie seen on screen. “What you saw on screen was exactly how it was off screen. There were no sparks, no romance, jealousy, or anger. They were genuinely fun to work with. You could approach them anytime; Ranbir was always open, Deepika too. By then, they had already become stars with a lot of responsibilities and very little free time. But whenever they did get time, they would hang out with us. Still, everything remained extremely professional. I often say this: I have never seen an actor more professional than Deepika Padukone. She was always on time, knew her job, knew her lines, and greeted everyone with a smile. She never threw a tantrum, not even once.”
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Naveen Kaushik worked with Ranbir Kapoor in Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year.
Speaking about his experience working with Ranbir Kapoor on Rocket Singh Salesman of the Year, when Ranbir was just a couple of films old, Naveen recalled the equality with which the actor treated him. “Even though he was already a star, he treated me like a brother. We used to pull each other’s leg. After a point, we forgot that this was Ranbir Kapoor, that the film rested on his shoulders, that he wasn’t just one of us. I think he always knew he was the prince of the Kapoor family. He understood that if you love people, they will automatically love you back. And if you work with dedication, that will eventually speak for itself.”
Naveen added that Ranbir never carried a sense of self-importance on set and made everyone feel included. “He would talk to everyone. He never felt offended if someone didn’t greet him on set. I’ve heard of many stars who take it personally if you don’t meet them or greet them. Ranbir wasn’t like that at all. He wanted us to crack jokes so that he could laugh. We never felt like we were working with a ‘star’. It felt like we were working with a fellow actor, someone who was struggling with his scenes just like the rest of us.”
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Highlighting Ranbir’s generosity as a performer, Naveen spoke about how the actor created space for others to shine. “The ice completely broke between us. We were constantly rehearsing. It was always about what the scene demanded. I think it was amazing on his part to give us that space. This was my first major project. Before this, I had only done a minor role in Dev D. This was the first time I was getting attention on screen. Ranbir knew when to step back and understood that not every scene belonged to him. He gave me the opportunity to shine, to play with the craft. That was very generous of him.”
In the same conversation, Naveen also reflected on meeting Ranbir again during Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and noticing a visible evolution in the actor. “He was calmer, more sure of himself. He had seen both success and failure, and you could sense a humility within him. When I met him after Rocket Singh, he was genuinely concerned about me, asking whether I was getting work, whether I was doing well in life. He had also grown more confident in his craft. He had done such varied films by then and understood how to connect with the audience, what to do and what not to do. Every star has certain attributes that people love, and he had understood that about himself. He knew how to play to those strengths, and that’s why he came across as very confident.”
