Koffee With Karan 7: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt on how they bonded over their Sanjay Leela Bhansali ‘baptism’

Koffee With Karan 7 kicked off its latest season in style. The season’s first episode saw Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt grace Karan Johar’s couch. The duo, who first starred together in Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy, will share the screen yet again in Karan’s upcoming directorial Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. The duo have also worked in films helmed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, albeit separately. Ranveer and Alia recently opened up about working with the famed director.

When speaking about their bond, Ranveer spoke of how Alia was going through a ‘tough time’ when working on Gangubai Kathiawadi, which SJB helmed. Ranveer talked of how working with the filmmaker involved a ‘unique creative process’ which took some time getting used to. Himself being a ‘Bhansali veteran’ Ranveer said he had had a sit down with Alia before she started working on the film and he prepared her for the ‘curveballs’ the director liked to throw. Calling working with SJB a ‘rite of passage’ for every creative person, Ranveer said the ‘Bhansali baptism’ was something that would prepare actors for anything in their career.

Alia also opened up about how challenging it was to do the film, recalling how physically exhausted she had been while working on the film. She said that she had called up Ranveer and asked him how he was able to get through working with SJB. Ranveer had given her the support she needed, talking her through her emotions as she started to cry after becoming overwhelmed. Afterwards, Ranveer had even come to set to offer his support as well.

Alia spoke of how Ranveer had ‘energised’ her. The actor had encouraged Alia to push herself, saying she would feel grateful to see her efforts on screen. Afterwards, SJB had appreciated Alia’s efforts and the actress said that she would be ‘eternally grateful’ to Ranveer for having pushed her.