Chef Ranveer Brar has impressed audiences with his performance in the recently released film The Buckingham Murders. Playing the complex character of Daljeet Kohli, the chef-turned-actor made his mark despite sharing the screen with veteran actress Kareena Kapoor Khan.

The interrogation scenes especially attracted fans with their intensity. In an exclusive chat with India Today Digital, Ranveer discussed the memorable ‘slap’ scene in the climax, and revealed that it took around 15 takes to get it right.

“Kareena was initially hesitant to slap me; she kept saying, ‘I will not kill’ (I will not kill you) On the other hand, Hansal sir (director Hansal Mehta) insisted, ‘Kill himRanveer Brar said, “I know Ranveer won’t mind it. Kareena’s hands were always near my nose, but they never touched me. I am not used to reacting without getting hurt, so we needed at least 15 takes for that scene. However, I must say that Kareena didn’t touch me even once.”

He praised Kareena Kapoor Khan, saying that initially he was intimidated by her presence. Despite this, her passion for cinema allowed the shoot to go smoothly. Ranveer admitted that being around her made him even more nervous to work with Kareena, to the extent that he almost got a fever.

Ranveer made his acting debut in Modern Love Mumbai opposite Prateik Gandhi. He said that since he knew Prateik and they were almost of the same age, it was easy for them to work together.

He said, “As far as camera fear is concerned, I realised it is my strength, so it was never an issue. Working with Pratik was easy, but the hype around Kareena made me nervous. I even got a fever. The writer and assistants kept reminding me to prepare thoroughly before shooting with her. I felt a little scared on the set at that time.”

Ranveer also praised Kareena’s aura and the way she works. Recalling a touching moment, he said, “She kept taking all my close-ups even though someone else could have done it. It was really sweet and humbling. Since it was my first day on the set, she made me feel comfortable. All my anxiety vanished in that moment.”

Ranveer said actors who come from film families often have a special respect for the script and the art. “There is a special respect for the script and the story. Kareena was dedicated not just to her character, but to the film and the story. As a producer, she could have easily focused on her character, but she always gave priority to the story. After working with her, I have a lot of respect for her,” he said.

Finally, Ranveer described his experience in The Buckingham Murders as ‘filmmaking school’. He praised the evolution of his character in the film and said, “It was an amazing experience, and thanks to Hansal sir, I learnt a lot. It felt like I was going back to school.”

The Buckingham Murders is currently playing in cinemas.