No lip-syncing for mute Ranbir

Ranbir's character in Barfi is deaf and mute, but he will still be seen in song and dance sequences.

Director Anurag Basu explains, "Ranbir can't sing, but we have six songs in the film that are used to express the protagonists' feelings without lip-syncing. Priyanka's character also doesn't sing in Barfi."

While there will be no lip-syncing for Ranbir in Barfi, Kishore, another film Anurag is making with the actor, will have only lip-synced songs.

Says Basu, "I've never had my characters singing on screen although my films have always had lots of music. Gangster has chartbusters but no one sang them on screen. But Kishore is about a singer. So there's no choice."

Rishi Kapoor, who has lip-synced many of Kishore Kumar's evergreen numbers will play coach to Ranbir to help him synchronise the mystical singer's voice.

Earlier it was decided that Ranbir would sing remixes of Kishore Kumar's numbers. But now the actor will lip-sync the originals.

Ranbir and Priyanka play differently-abled characters leading perfectly normal lives in Barfi.

Says Anurag, "The film is a celebration of life. I've not underlined their disability nor is their disability shown in any way to be the driving force in their lives."

Anurag admits Barfi has taken longer to make than his other films. "But any halwai will tell you the milk has to be stirred on a slow fire for the barfi to come out just right."

Barfi is edited and finally ready for release. "Its running time is two hours. No film of mine has ever been more than two hours long."u00a0