Ahead of Mother’s Day, Ranbir Kapoor talks about his ma, Neetu Singh and her role in his independence
Sneha Mahadevan (DNA; May 9, 2015)

Not too long ago, Rishi Kapoor spoke about son Ranbir Kapoor moving out and about the ‘empty nest syndrome’ that he and his wife Neetu were going through. Now, Ranbir reveals that it was actually his mother’s idea to get him to live alone so he could have a better understanding of life.

He says, “My father says what he feels and of course, I feel that void too. I miss my parents, but it’s a temporary thing. There is an extra, exaggerated drama being made out in the press, but it’s actually nothing. I meet my parents even more right now because when you live in the same house, you take them for granted. You just meet them for two minutes. But now I make sure I go and have a meal with them once in two days. When I am not shooting, I sometimes go and meet them everyday. My father misses me and I miss him too.” Though he is going to move back with his parents, he says that will take him some time as the entire house will be completely re-constructed.

Most people attributed his moving out to lack of privacy, but that is far from the truth. “I have always wanted to live alone. but it was actually my mother’s idea. She told me that I’d been in my father’s house for too long. Of course, in India there is a certain tradition where the family stays together, but she really wanted me to experience life on my own. I did go to America and stayed there for four years but that was as a student. But now that I am a working professional and I am financially independent, my mother thought it would be good to live a life of my own and be a little responsible. I am not a wild kid where I am going crazy with parties, so that way I am quite sorted with work. Initially, I was a little hesitant with the idea because I was very comfortable living in the house. My parents have never encroached on my space. I have lots of space in the house. But she was insistent and she wanted me to do it. Now, I realise that it is one of the best things I have done because there is a sense of ownership you feel when you live on your own. When you are in your parents’ house, you still feel like they are taking care of everything. In my father’s house, I would always be the boy. In my own house, I can be the man of the house. That transition was very important for me,” Ranbir explains.
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Do you think we need to have one particular day to celebrate Mother's Day?
Having one particular day is a marketing day. Mother's day should be celebrated everyday. I speak for myself. What I am today is only because of my mother. Its because of her sacrifices, her love, her pain, her care, her upbringing, my understanding of life and whatever people have a notion of me or my character, I attribute it all to my mother. Not just me, but all of us and we should not forget that. Your mother will always be your first love. 

What is your relationship with your mother like?
I can talk to her about anything and everything. As traditional as she seems, she is extremely modern and understanding and approachable. Me and my mother are great friends. She always had a soft spot for me and we were always closer but that was also because my sister Riddhima's personality was more like my father's. She can get hot-headed. Riddhima is sweetly weird. 

You've been called a mumma's boy...
I don't consider myself to be a mumma's boy. Everyone keeps asking me that but I don't know why people ask me this. I love my mother and my mother loves me. So by that logic, every guy is a mumma's boy. There is nothing good or bad about it. I am what I am because of my mum. 

When was the last time you took your mum out for a vacation?
To be honest, I haven't really taken her out in a long time. But when we were shooting in Paris for Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, she was there with me and we had a really good time for a couple of days. We had some good meals, spent some great time together so that is one of those good times I remember. 

While you were growing up, was she strict or chilled out?
She is a mix of both. She was strict when she had to be and she was chilled out when she she was required to be. 

One quality that you are proud to have imbibed from her..
Just to be a good person. I am not proclaiming that I am not a good person but the idea or the effort and intention to be a good person is what I have imbibed from her. 

Best on-screen mother..
Supriya Pathak in Wake Up Sid.