Rana Daggubati recalls being ‘kidnapped’ by Ranbir Kapoor and Ayan Mukerji for Deepika Padukone starrer ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ cameo |

Rana Daggubati has shared an amusing behind-the-scenes tale about his short appearance in ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’, saying the cameo happened on the spur of the moment because of his friendship with Ranbir Kapoor and director Ayan Mukerji. Speaking at IFP at Mehboob Studios in Mumbai, Rana recalled that the two showed up at his hotel room while he was filming another movie and convinced him to join them for a late-night shoot. He joked that it felt like being “kidnapped,” adding that he hardly remembers shooting the scene before heading back to another set the next morning.

Rana Daggubati on why he said yes to Ranbir Kapoor and Ayan Mukerji

Rana explained that his bond with Ranbir and Ayan was the main reason he signed on to the 2013 romantic drama. He added that a leading star had been offered the part before him but passed on it. He also spoke about the unusual night when Ranbir and Ayan turned up at his Taj Lands End hotel room, where he was staying during another film’s shoot. The friends urged him to join them for filming that very night.“I am friends with Ranbir and Ayan. Some big star was supposed to play that, and that star said no. So these guys came to my hotel room where I was staying and shooting for some other film. They just kidnapped me and said you have to come to Udaipur tonight with us. They took me on the flight and shot that scene with me and came back,” Rana shared.

Rana Daggubati on cameos versus full-fledged roles

Rana said the cameo was a last-minute appearance rather than a major commitment. He remembered heading to the location, filming the scene overnight and returning the next morning to carry on with another project. The actor also admitted that he doesn’t view cameos as equal to full-fledged film roles. “Sorry, I just don’t understand that sort of thing. That’s as much as I can remember about cameos.”“So I vaguely remember something happened in the night. I shot something and I was back in the morning to another set. So I was like, something has happened,” he laughed. “That’s as much as I remember about the cameo.”

Rana Daggubati’s role in ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’

In the 2013 film ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’, Deepika Padukone starred as Naina opposite Ranbir Kapoor’s Bunny. Directed by Ayan Mukerji, the film also featured Aditya Roy Kapur as Avi and Kalki Koechlin as Aditi in key roles. The story followed four friends navigating love, ambition, travel and shifting priorities. Rana appears only briefly, in a scene lasting just a few minutes, as a man Naina meets at Aditi’s wedding. While he tries to flirt with her, Bunny steps in and pulls him away. The cameo remains one of the film’s biggest surprises.