Actor Ranbir Kapoor is enjoying the “best phase” of his life. And why not? He married actor Alia Bhatt in April, and the two are expecting their first child. Additionally, on the professional front, he has two big-ticket films — Shamshera and Brahmastra — releasing soon. “They are all big milestones in my life,” he tells us in an excited tone. In a freewheeling chat, the 39-year-old talks about how he is still finding a “correct answer” to describe this feeling. Excerpts:

There is no feeling like this and I really don’t know how to explain. Honestly, I have been thinking about the correct answer because I know I will be asked these questions a lot, and I really don’t know how to summarise this. But it’s like telling somebody what water feels like before you have ever even swam in it. I’m terrified, excited and jubilant. We (Alia and I) are dreaming about the future. It’s a great feeling.

It was something that Alia and I had been speaking about for a long time, that we want lots of children in our life. It was a mix of a lot of emotions. We feel blessed and grateful.

I haven’t really planned such things, but it’s like you’re doing something you’re unqualified to do, and then you become qualified while doing it. So, I don’t know what we will be in for as parents. As of now, you imbibe some value system you have taken from your family and life, but eventually, it’s one day at a time, and it’s a lifelong commitment.

I had an advantage coming from a film family. I have always been prepared for what a life of an actor would be like. There’s a lot of noise around you and you just become like a brand. People say things — at times positive, sometimes negative — but the life I lead is very different from the perception of what people write about me, or see me as. It’s all part and parcel of show business. You just have to take it in your stride and focus on your work, and have a nice, happy balancing.

Not at all. I’m very happy with the place I’m at in my life. Alia and I thought that it would seem right to tell the world, because we felt it was the right time. We just wanted to share the joy and there was no other thought behind it. My stand (about not joining social media) is the same as it has been the last few years.

Alia has centred me so much as a human being, among other impacts that she made in my life. She has given me so much love and joy that I feel so guilty sometimes, talking about this kind of happiness. I feel that it will go away and I have to protect that. It’s just such a joyful time in our relationship. We’ve seen a lot of ups and downs in the last few years and we just want to really enjoy this period in our lives.