By Subhash K. Jha
Mumbai, Oct 6 (IANS) After “Saawariya”, Ranbir Kapoor once again plays spurned lover in “Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani”, but director Raj Kumar Santoshi says the young actor’s character is zany and upbeat and never loses heart.

Santoshi, who returns to comedy after 15 years, wanted Ranbir to play the unrequited lover-boy with a difference in the film that has Katrina Kaif in the female lead.

“‘Ajab Prem…’ is a film about an unrequited love. I didn’t want Ranbir to play the loser in love as a tragic hero. Charlie Chaplin and Ranbir’s grandfather Raj Kapoor excelled in playing tragic losers in love. I don’t think the youngsters identify with it,” Santoshi told IANS.

Hasn’t Ranbir already done the role of an unrequited lover in “Saawariya”? He worshipped the ground that Sonam Kapoor walked on, but she had eyes only for Salman Khan.

“Yes. But not in this zany and upbeat way. Though Ranbir’s character loses out in love, he doesn’t lose heart for even a second. He remains blindly devoted and besotted right till the end while Katrina just keeps taking him for granted.”