Anushka Sharma, Ranveer Singh & Bhumi Pednekar speak about how YRF has always backed outsiders

The much-talked-about Netflix docu-series The Romantics, which is a tribute to the legacy of Yash Chopra & YRF and their cultural impact on India and Indians for the past 50 years, was released on Feb 14 to unanimous acclaim and love globally.

The national over-pouring of love for Yash Chopra and YRF was evident as The Romantics became the Number 1 trending title on Netflix within 48 hours of its drop, a rare feat for a documentary. The Romantics is also in the Top 10 trending shows in 9 countries: Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Mauritius, Pakistan, Qatar, Sri Lanka & UAE!

In the acclaimed docu-series, The Romantics, Anushka Sharma, Ranveer Singh & Bhumi Pednekar speak about how Yash Raj Films has always backed outsiders and groomed them to present their brilliance to the world!

Ranveer, who debuted in YRF’s cult hit Band Baaja Baaraat and became a star overnight, says, “I wanted to be an actor since as far back as I can remember. There is nothing that fascinated me more than Hindi films. Just picture this slightly overweight kid, sitting on the floor in front of the television screen. While all the kids are playing outside, you know. I was just engrossed, besotted, fascinated, and wide-eyed. It was a very-very fascinating world for me.”

The Jayeshbhai Jordaar actor adds, “It wasn’t so simple (to get a debut) though because the Hindi film industry, for the longest number of years, was very closed. I’m talking around the turn of the century, you know 2000, when you would look around and you see that everybody is the son of somebody, and I thought to myself, ‘My chances are really slim like a million to one’!”

Ranveer reveals how he felt when YRF gave him his break. He says, “I was like exalting, literally, with my hands in the air. I was like yes, I couldn’t believe I got a call back the same evening. They had never launched a new face. A new male face, up until this point. So, this was unprecedented!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh)

Anushka Sharma was launched by Aditya Chopra in his blockbuster directorial Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi alongside Shah Rukh Khan. She reveals, “I came from an absolutely non-film background. I didn’t know anybody who worked in movies. Not a single person. After a while then Adi called me, he said look, I am definitely going to launch you. It was huge for somebody like me who came from Bangalore, who did not grow up in this world.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by AnushkaSharma1588 (@anushkasharma)

Bhumi Pednekar was launched by YRF in the hit Dum Laga Ke Haisha. She delivered a path-breaking performance as a debutant after being groomed by YRF for years.

Bhumi reveals, “I come from a very-very middle-class family, middle-class background. I’ve worked my way up. My family is very creative, but I don’t come from an actor-film family. I always wanted to be an actor and I didn’t really tell anyone I want to be an actor, it was like a deep dark secret. My job was paying me well, I was very good at what I was doing. I’d become a very integral part of the filming system.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bhumi ? (@bhumipednekar)

Bhumi adds, “I debuted as this overweight heroine which is unheard of in India, in a love story which is completely unheard of. But what was common between me and the other YRF heroines was that we were very confident. You know, we had a lot of self-belief and we stood for what was right.”

The Romantics has been directed by Oscar & Emmy-nominated film-maker Smriti Mundhra, who returns to Netflix after the phenomenal success of Indian Matchmaking and the Never Have I Ever franchise.

From Aamir Khan to Salman Khan, from Shah Rukh Khan to Ranbir Kapoor, from Amitabh Bachchan to Ranveer Singh, from Rani Mukerji to Hrithik Roshan, from Katrina Kaif to Anushka Sharma, the mega-stars and icons of Hindi cinema have come together and spoken about Yash Chopra and YRF’s contribution to Indian cinema in The Romantics.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Yash Raj Films (@yrf)

Netflix, in this four-part docu-series, will also feature 35 leading personalities from the film industry, who have closely worked with YRF through its 50-year glorious existence.

YRF is currently at an all-time high as their latest release Pathaan. It is now the number one Hindi film worldwide and has become the biggest all-time blockbuster in the history of Hindi cinema with a worldwide gross collection currently at 1031.50 crores!

Also read: Ranveer Singh recalls what Aditya Chopra told him after seeing his audition for Band Baaja Baarat: He said, I saw a 25-year career in front of me