Such is the popularity of Animal (2023) among Ranbir Kapoor’s fans that they’ve kept their eyes peeled for Animal Park. As the superstar recently united with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga for a virtual press meet, ahead of the blockbuster’s release in Japan on February 13, the duo talked about the way ahead for the franchise.

Expressing his excitement to play two characters — Rannvijay and his cousin Aziz — in the sequel, Kapoor said, “I can’t wait to get back on set with Sandeep and play these characters. Sandeep and I keep chatting through the week or month and keep discussing different ideas.” Vanga, who is currently helming Spirit, shared that Animal Park will go on floors by mid-2027.

Besides Rockstar (2011) and Barfi (2012), Animal has become a career-defining movie for Kapoor. The actor admitted that Vanga’s faith in him convinced him to say yes to a “scary character”. “Before this, I was always playing the lover boy and coming-of-age characters. When Sandeep narrated Animal to me, I found the character extremely scary to approach for an actor like me. But [thanks to] his confidence, I believed I could do it,” he said.

Ranbir Kapoor said he felt a deep bond with Japan, thanks to his late grandfather Raj Kapoor. “I have such a deep connection with Japan. One of my grandfather’s most popular songs around the world is ‘Mera Joota Hai Japani’,” he reasoned, adding that he now wants to take his daughter Raha to the country. “I cannot wait to show Japan to her.”

They gave a glimpse of the magic they could create together when they teamed up for Sanju (2018). Since then, people have hoped Rajkumar Hirani and Ranbir Kapoor would return to the drawing board for another project. In fact, there was considerable chatter about the duo collaborating on a biopic. However, we now hear that the film on an athlete is off the immediate slate. Industry insiders claim the film has been deferred until 2027.

“Hirani and Ranbir were very excited about this one; they had been jamming on it through the year,” informs a trade source, adding that since the script needed more time, “Hirani decided to park it. Ranbir’s calendar is packed, so it made sense to regroup later. Everyone wants it to be like Sanju, so they’re okay to wait.”

In the interim, the director has shifted focus to a biopic on Dadasaheb Phalke, starring Aamir Khan, set to begin in January 2026. An insider reveals that Khan has been in preparation for months. “He’s growing out his look and will dive straight into workshops in December. This is the first time he’s playing a real-life pioneer of cinema, and Hirani wants to give it the grandeur it deserves.”

As per Kapoor’s schedule, he will first wrap Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War and the second instalment of Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana. The source adds, “Post that, depending on which script is ready, he will take a call between Dhoom 4 and Animal Park, as they are both in advanced development.”

Ranbir Kapoor rang in his birthday with more than just cake and candles — he gave fans a front-row seat to his life and line-up of movies. During an Instagram live session, the actor dropped big updates: from Animal Park rolling in 2027, to Ramayana, and his much-awaited reunion with Alia Bhatt in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War. The session flowed easily – with the actor talking about his big-screen ambitions to the everyday happiness of being with family.

Ranbir gave an update about Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s much-talked-about sequel to Animal. The actor revealed that Animal Park is expected to go on floors in 2027. “Sandeep has been interacting with me on the idea, the music and the characters. It’s just crazy and I can’t wait to be on set,” shared the actor who turned 43.

The actor also gave everyone a glimpse into his personal life, sharing how he spent the day with wife Alia Bhatt and daughter Raha. “Raha made me a promise that she would give me 43 kisses, and I got that. She made me a beautiful card, which really moved me. It’s been a perfect birthday,” Ranbir said with a smile.

On his birthday, Ranbir took a quick vacation with Alia, Raha and mom Neetu Kapoor, and daughter Raha.

“Had a wonderful birthday last night. The last two days have been great because I was with mother, Alia and Raha. I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday,” he shared.

The live chat wasn’t just about films — it was also about what truly inspires him. Ranbir revealed his current mu-sic playlist and said that Barbaad from Saiyaara is a song that “resonates deeply” with him. He also praised the soundtrack of Kalyani Priyadarshan’s superhero film Lokah , describing it as “just excellent.”

When quizzed about his long-discussed directorial ambitions, Ranbir admitted he’s closer than ever to making it happen. “I am dying to direct a movie. I’ve actually started a writer’s room recently and I’m working on two ideas. It’s definitely on my to-do list in the next couple of years,” he shared.

On Brahmastra 2, he assured fans that Ayan Mukerji is busy writing the script and updates will follow soon.

Ranbir Kapoor had a lot of updates on his upcoming projects, and he was eager to share them at the ongoing Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).

Speaking about the much-anticipated sequel to Animal (2023), which was confirmed earlier this year, the 42-year-old told Deadline, “The director (Sandeep Reddy Vanga) is making another film right now, [so] we should [be able to] start that film in 2027... He wants to make it into three parts and the second part will be called Animal Park,” and added, “We have been sharing ideas from the first film itself on how he wants to take the story forward. It’s very exciting because I [will] get to play two characters — both the antagonist and the protagonist. So, it’s an extremely exciting project with an extremely original director.”

Kapoor is also set to star in his second Sanjay Leela Bhansali film titled Love And War, which is currently in the pre-production stage. Recounting his debut film with Bhansali, Saawariya (2007), Kapoor revealed how it had the “biggest impact on his career”.

“I have always believed failures changed me more than successful films. My first film, Saawariya, was a big disaster at the box office and it was ridiculed as a film. [But] it prepared me early on about what this industry is like, and what it is like to be an actor. I was humbled with my first film itself; it prepared me for the ride.”

As for Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, where Kapoor will star alongside Sai Pallavi, the actor revealed that the shoot for the first part has been wrapped up. Calling it “India’s greatest story”, the actor said, “I am so humbled to essay Ram’s role. It’s a film that has everything. It teaches what Indian culture is about — family and husband-wife dynamics.”

Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal-verse kicked off on a successful note with the release of the first film in the franchise. At the end of its runtime, a sequel titled Animal Park was also teased. Now, we have learnt that the makers might be planning a stand-alone spin-off for Abrar Haque, the antagonist, played by actor Bobby Deol.

The film’s release in December 2023 saw intense buzz for the deaf-mute character and its introduction sequence reaching new levels of virality. “The makers have realised the potential of the character, and are mulling over bringing it back for a separate film,” a source tells us, adding that Vanga will serve as creative director on the project.

The insider adds that the idea is still in the nascent stage and Abrar might not have to be brought back from the dead. “It will be a prequel to Animal. The makers have had a casual chat with Bobby, who expressed his excitement. But they want to flesh the story and the details of the character out first and then take it up officially with him.”

We reached out to Deol and Vanga with regard to the speculations but were met with no response till the time of going to press.

A 15-minute role in Animal is all it took for Bobby Deol to make an iconic comeback. Today, he is having a hard time navigating his way through the offers coming his way. “It has probably never happened before that a music piece (Jamal Kudu, the song used for his introduction in the film) went so viral that the music company had to release it. I’m getting a lot of offers but it has to be something that satisfies me as an actor. After a character like Abrar, what more can I get?” he says.

The 54-year-old, who has three confirmed projects in hand right now including Hari Hara Veer Mallu, NBK109 and Kanguva, wouldn’t name any more. “I’m doing a web series, and hopefully one or two films. I feel good and scared about this situation.”

Looking back, does he hold grudges against those that didn’t support him in his lean phase? “I’m not vindictive when I meet them today. I don’t blame anyone because that’s how life is — they openly want you when they can use you. It’s not something I blame anyone for. I know it’s a business. I stopped working when I couldn’t handle it. Now I know this is how it is,” he ends.

Amid speculation that Deol might be back in the sequel to Animal, Animal Park, because of how popular his role got, a source tells us there is no truth to it yet. “Sandeep (Reddy Vanga, director of Animal) is working on Prabhas’ Spirit right now. Since the script was being worked on for a long time, the original plan was always that Deol’s character dies in Animal. But looking at Abrar’s popularity, there could be a possibility of the story being altered,” we are told.

The cohesive partnership between producer Bhushan Kumar and director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, built on trust and creative freedom, has birthed a cinematic experience like Animal. Vanga finds not just a producer but an unwavering backup in Bhushan Kumar, a camaraderie that goes beyond conventional partnerships.

Vanga believes that when you trust a producer, you can focus on your craft. He shares, “The process of making Animal was very smooth with Bhushan ji around. The kind of freedom he gives in terms of creativity and the liberty to choose any song makes me feel at home at T-Series, and there is nothing more than that a director needs. I didn’t just find a partner to work with, I found a brother in Bhushan ji.”

The convergence of creativity and commercial viability is often considered a challenge. However, for this duo, the distinction between creativity and commercialism is a bridge they effortlessly navigate. The pursuit of creativity even surpasses budgetary constraints sometimes. Vanga shared, “I realized after the movie was made that we never discussed the budget.”

Highlighting that some stories can’t be time-bound and require a certain length, the Animal director added, “Bhushan ji always stood by me and showed complete faith in my conviction about the film’s length. With this level of trust and comfort, I am collaborating with him on more projects, including Spirit with Prabhas, Animal Park, a film with Allu Arjun and many more.”

For Bhushan Kumar, understanding and trusting Vanga’s vision is paramount. He says, “From day one to now, our bond has only become stronger, and Sandeep and Pranay (Reddy Vanga) are now like a family to me. As soon as Sandeep narrated the one-line description of Animal, which was all about a father-son relationship, I was all in for it.”

Kumar added, “I’m also glad to have found a like-minded co-producer in Pranay Reddy Vanga. Together, we will produce better movies for the Indian audience and bring joy to the masses in the years to come.”