In the two days since the trailer of Gully Boy was released, Ranveer Singh has been applauded for his nuanced act of an upcoming rapper from the streets of Dharavi. Much like the fans, director Zoya Akhtar says she too was surprised when she saw her leading man — otherwise known for his gregarious nature — portray his angst-ridden character with subtlety that is uncharacteristic of him.

"Ranveer is ridiculously versatile," exclaims Akhtar, attributing his deep understanding of characters to his "sensitive nature". "He has a high emotional quotient. So, he can portray any kind of emotion with finesse." The filmmaker points out that Singh is one of the few actors who can seamlessly switch from the over-the-top universe of Simmba (2018) to the gritty one of Gully Boy.