A resurfaced interview reveals that Ranveer Singh was director Sandeep Reddy Vanga's original choice for the lead role in the Hindi remake "Kabir Singh," which ultimately starred Shahid Kapoor. Vanga, who also directed the Telugu original "Arjun Reddy," disclosed that Singh declined the role because he found the character "too dark" at the time.

In a conversation with iDream Media, Vanga recounted receiving numerous calls from Mumbai to remake "Arjun Reddy" in Hindi. Ranveer Singh was the first actor he approached. However, Singh felt the content was too intense for him. Following Singh's rejection, the role was offered to Shahid Kapoor.

Vanga admitted that industry insiders expressed reservations about casting Kapoor due to his box office track record. At the time, none of Kapoor's solo films had grossed ₹100 crore, with his highest-grossing film earning ₹65 crore. Critics questioned Vanga's decision, suggesting that Ranveer Singh would guarantee higher box office numbers. However, Vanga remained confident in Kapoor's acting abilities.

"Kabir Singh," starring Shahid Kapoor and Kiara Advani, was released in 2019 and became a box office phenomenon. The film, a remake of the Telugu blockbuster "Arjun Reddy," generated significant buzz and controversy. Despite some criticism for allegedly glorifying misogyny and toxic masculinity, "Kabir Singh" earned approximately ₹380 crore worldwide. The film became the second highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2019 and Kapoor's highest-grossing solo lead release.

Vanga is currently promoting his upcoming film, "Animal", starring Ranbir Kapoor. Meanwhile, Ranveer Singh is preparing for his role in Rohit Shetty's "Singham Again".

The director also recounted wanting to work with Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu after the success of "Arjun Reddy". Vanga approached Babu with a film idea, anticipating it would be his second project. However, as Mahesh Babu was already committed to another project, Vanga decided to accept offers from Bollywood to remake "Arjun Reddy" in Hindi. Vanga found remaking a widely watched film challenging and potentially "painful".

In retrospect, Vanga acknowledged that the success of "Kabir Singh" was crucial for his career as a director and that Shahid Kapoor's portrayal resonated with audiences, exceeding expectations.