Before beginning his acting journey with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya (2007), Ranbir Kapoor assisted him on Black (2005). And he recalls how he learnt some lessons about filmmaking then.

“Mr Sanjay Leela Bhansali used to really treat me as an assistant director... He used to hit us, abuse us, and I’m sure dada ji (late filmmaker-actor Raj Kapoor) used to do the same. It only hardens you and prepares you for the world. You understand filmmaking, there is much more to it,” said Ranbir, who was in the Capital recently. When quizzed what he’d ask his grandfather if he was still alive, Ranbir said , “I’d like to have a drink with him and chat. I’m very interested in making a biopic about him.”

The 39-year-old also highlighted the differences in the filmmaking process today versus his grandfather’s time, saying: “They truly made films like kings. I’m not saying my age as a filmmaker and actor is only running behind the commercial aspect of filmmaking. I think cinema is something we learn from people like Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt — the kind of stories they sold, the kind of values they spoke of in their films, they inspire us (even now).”

Ranbir also shared that he has heard stories of Raj Kapoor’s house being mortgaged and his late grandmother Krishna Kapoor’s jewellery being sold to complete a film.

He clarified that things aren’t as rosy in showbiz as they appear on the surface, particularly when it comes to certain notions that people may encounter when aspiring to be actors. “There’s this misconception that in order to get into movies, you must take dance classes, learn horseback riding, and become an actor. But there’s a lot [more] that goes into what we do. There’s an understanding of storytelling and complex human emotions,” he shared.

As the discussion steered to his father, late actor Rishi Kapoor, Ranbir recalled that as a kid, he used to be “petrified” of him. He added that even though his father seemed to be hard on the outside, he was kind. “We miss him dearly,” Ranbir ended.

Ranbir Kapoor in an exclusive chat with mid-day talks about 'marrying' the director's mind; sending harsh messages to his dad Rishi via his mom, why there will never be a Raj Kapoor biopic, and more...
Mayank Shekhar (MID-DAY; July 6, 2018)

Actor Ranbir Kapoor visited the mid-day office to 'Sit with Hitlist', as it were, right before the release of Sanju. Which is just as well, since he usually meets the press only to promote his films, a rule of sorts, we hope, he would make exceptions to, once in a while. For, the last time mid-day was trying to get in touch with him was in late 2016, when we wanted to put him on the cover of a new product we were launching. We asked his best-friend, filmmaker Ayan Mukerji, to put in a word, we exchanged text messages with Kapoor for a couple of days; until, he totally disappeared! Only fair then that we start this conversation with:

You obviously don't like being interviewed, now, do you?
No, I don't. Maybe it is because I am an introvert. And when I don't have a movie to talk about, I really feel naked to be asked [questions about myself], because I find it hard to lie about certain things.

Which is true. There should be a serious meme online with, 'Ranbir honestly says'. You've spoken about your parents' marital problems, developing a drinking problem, because you were chilling at home, alone. In the early years, you've spoken about having been a stoner once, and then your dad's lawyer called to warn that you could go to jail for saying that. Are you more careful now?
No, I don't want to be careful, I prefer to be honest. It's always nice when someone talks to you for the hard work you've put in, or the fact that someone just recognises your work. When I started my career, there was a lot of spotlight on my personal life — not about my parents, but about my partner. So I got scared, and it made me cautious. And I don't know how to lie, or manipulate a situation. If somebody wants to know about my life, and it kind of changes something in their life, inspires them, or helps them learn from my mistakes, then of course, I wouldn't mind talking.

We met last year before the release of Jagga Jasoos, and then, of course, you were gone after. What did you make of the reactions to that film?
I was disappointed for various reasons. I was collaborating with a director like Anurag Basu who had worked his a** off for three years. Katrina [Kaif] and I did other projects, but he was just on this. In our heads, it is usually hard to accept that our film wasn't very good. When the audience rejects it, you feel that maybe they didn't get it, or the film was way ahead of its time. But that's not true. A good film is a good film. Nothing else matters. It was sad that the film didn't do well. But thankfully, as actors, we have other projects that we've already surrendered ourselves to; we're on a different journey, which helps. Also, I'm a detached person by nature, which applies to the final verdict of a film as well.

You had earlier done Barfi (2012) with Basu; apparently you didn't have any idea what was going on in that film as well, and then everyone loved it. You had similar thoughts about Jagga; that it could have gone either way?
I think so. Barfi was made in such a way that we — including Priyanka [Chopra], Ileana [D'Cruz] — had no clue what was going on. We would come on set, and Dada [Basu] would ask us, "Aaj kya mann hai karne ka? Chalo aaj tum teen pani-puri khaane jao." And so we would improvise on that scene. We didn't have a script. There was a story. There was a heart, and character synopsis. When we finally saw the film the three of us were like, "Wow, this is something great." But we didn't feel that while making the film. So we thought, chalo, if we could pull that off, it might just work with Jagga as well. Both films were made in the same way, just that he spent a lot of time on Jagga, as it was a musical, father-son story, my character stammers, was a detective…There was too much going on. I think there were some genius parts. But on the whole, it didn't really come together.



Your dad totally bajaoed the poor director in the press after the film. Poor guy must have felt terrible, no?
Of course, I felt really bad for Dada. And he said something about Pritam da [music composer] as well. I only have empathy for them. But, to be honest, I have never looked my father in the eye. I always look down and speak to him. And only say, "Yes!" So, it was very hard for me to confront him on these things. But I always pass on a harsh message through my mom. What do I do, I can't control him.

You seemed to be in a happy space before Jagga's release though, because you said you were working with Rajkumar Hirani on Sanju.
When you work with a successful director, you already have that cushion. It's like somebody has your back. Because even when Sanju's promo and posters came out, the amount of love we received was because of Rajkumar Hirani and Sanjay Dutt's fan-following first.

And certainly yours, too.
Of course, but I haven't received such response to any of my earlier films. When I was constantly hitting failure, it was not in my control either. For me, Bombay Velvet (2015), Jagga Jasoos (2017), Tamasha (2015) were entertaining films. That's why I was part of them. They were my choices. So you need to take a step back, and ask yourself what's going wrong. That answer requires patience. In my case, people in the industry said, "Commercial picture karo. Body banao." It confuses you. But you need to take in everything: Suno sabki. Karo apni. I am feeling better now.

Correct me if I am wrong: Your dad Rishi Kapoor had taken you to Hirani after Lage Raho Munnabhai (2006) and requested him to work with you. You were also considered for 3 Idiots (2009), and there were talks about PK (2014) as well, in which you made a cameo. Clearly, Aamir Khan stole those parts, right?
Not at all. Let's just put it this way, I didn't deserve to be in those films, given the time and place I was in my life. Post Lage Raho Munnabhai, my father saw Raju sir's mother, fell flat on her feet, and told her, "Your son is a genius, and I hope he works with my son at some point." Because my father is like that. When he likes something, he just overdoes it!



You spent an entire year on Sanju, even while you weren't shooting through it all, simply hanging around in Raju's office, observing the process; in the same way that you spent 45 days in A R Rahman's studio during Rockstar (2011). Is that your method?
Yes, it is. Before I start a film, one of the things I try to do is completely marry the director's mind. As an actor, I am just channelling what he has written. The other thing is to understand the material. A role like Sanju doesn't come often in an actor's life. So, I understood that this is the film that I need to work my a** off for. Also, it's very rare that an actor feels so inspired towards a film. Post-Rockstar, Sanju was that film for me.

It's also a character you've seen all your life. He's been your neighbour at Pali Hill. Forget the irony of it all, just as a tabloid story of 70 years: Nargis and Raj Kapoor were the nation's top on-screen couple, even creative partners. And then, generations later, Raj Kapoor's grandson plays Nargis's son on screen. It is kinda crazy, right?
It is. But Sanju sir would always tease me when I used to work out in his gym during Barfi, "Yeh kya movie kar raha hai, Barfi. Iske baad kya karega? Laddoo. Phir, peda? Body bana. Be a man. Hero ban." But he has a lot of affection for me. He would always say, "If there is a film made on me, then I would like you to do it!"

He actually offered you the role...
He did. This was couple of years before Raju sir had thought about it. When the offer actually came to me, I wasn't really excited. I was like, "I can't do it. My personality is so different. He is larger than life, macho, alpha-male. And how can you make a biopic on an actor, who is still so relevant and working? How will I convince people?" But once I read the script, my perception completely changed.

Wasn't (late) Yash Chopra once supposed to make a biopic on Raj Kapoor and Nargis Dutt's life?
Yes, there were certain talks. But, I guess, when you are making an actor's biopic, it has to open certain classified files, and reveal the human side, the flaws and mistakes. You can't highlight only the good side of a person. I don't think my family would allow such a biopic on my grandfather to be made. But, yes, there was interest that Yash ji has shown in making it.

In the same way that Kishore Kumar's family didn't allow you to make a biopic on him?
Yes. In fact, a lot of people called us during the making of Sanju to find out if there was a mention of them in the movie! Raju sir had to come clean on those accounts most of the times. You can't mention someone, and just stop your film! We had to fictionalise certain things, or change some names.



Then there's your body-language in Sanju, which straddles a thin line between performance, and mimicry, that so many people love to do of superstars. In fact, that may well be a definition of old-world super-stardom —when the public starts mimicking your walk, talk, voice, for fun. Have you found someone who mimics you well?
[Mimicry artiste] Sanket [Bhosale, who does a drunk Sanjay Dutt really well, and who I had met while prepping for the part] has done me as well, and it's pretty good. But as the years have passed in Indian cinema, a lot of stylised acting has diminished. It has become more natural and spontaneous. It's hard to mimic spontaneity, and this holds true with all the actors in my generation. Everyone seems quite relatable in that sense. But I think the way someone talks, or dances, you can mimic. I guess Sanket has done a good job with me.

What's the first mannerism you notice about yourself, watching someone mimic you?
When someone mimics you, that means you are successful, and that you are doing something right. But the first reaction watching it is: That doesn't sound like me. The second reaction is always: Wow. It's pretty cool that someone is relating to me. I have tried to mimic Amitabh Bachchan from Agneepath (1990), Hrithik Roshan in Koi Mil Gaya (2003), Shah Rukh Khan in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995), Salman Khan in Hum Aapke Hai Koun (1994), Aamir Khan in Rangeela (1995)…. I never thought someone would mimic me.

And were you good at it?
No, I suck at it. I don't have the talent to modulate my voice, or study each mannerism, and swing it back. In Tamasha, I had to do Dev Anand's mimicry. For that, I actually took classes. But it still seems caricaturish.

The other thing about stardom is when one is pitted against the other. The Khans, for instance, have been exclusive 'rivals' for almost 30 years now; feeding off each other, as if there's no chance anyone else can enter this zone. In your generation, the big story is Ranbir Kapoor vs Ranveer Singh; correct?
It will be pompous for me to say that it is the thing.

Will it be pompous to compare yourself with Ranveer Singh?
To anybody. But yes, I have a great opponent if I can say so [myself]. When I see his [Ranveer's] films, I get inspired. He is quite magical on screen. And I think I'll help him do better. And he will help me do better. There are times when his movies really set cash registers ringing. I would want to beat that. And it's not only the two of us. There is Varun [Dhawan], Tiger [Shroff], Sushant [Singh Rajput]. When I started out, there were only two or three. Now, there are 15. But I am really excited about this media competition.

Why media competition? It's a genuine numbers' thing, isn't it?
I think it's exaggerated by the media. I don't sit at home thinking, "Achcha, Ranveer ne aisa kiya, toh mujhe bhi karna padega!" But this media-created competition will be exciting.

Also the two of you have followed a cliché of show business. For instance, everyone refused Zanjeer (1973), and Bachchan was born. Everyone, or at least Aamir refused Darr (1993), that pretty much made SRK. And you refused Band Baaja Baaraat (2010), then there is Ranveer Singh!
I started out being very choosy about the films I was doing. And my dad never understood this side of an actor, where he does one film at a time. He comes from a school of thought where you work all the time: three-four releases a year. And then he said, "You have to understand that for every film you say no to, you're creating another actor, who's going to get better than you." But that's destiny. I can't do every film. And, I don't have any regrets about the fact that I didn't do a particular film, and so, some other actor came up!

Speaking of new talents, one of the films you move on to is with Luv Ranjan, who you called up right after watching his low-budget debut, Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011). Do you do that very often?
It's the only time. Of course, when I like a film, I always congratulate. It's important for the fraternity to celebrate others' film-successes —whether it's a performance, or the director's work. But with Luv, I saw Pyaar Ka Punchnama on a flight to London. Soon as I landed, I messaged him, "Hey, I really enjoyed your film. This is Ranbir, and I would love to collaborate with you on a film." We left it at that. Over the years, we spoke about various subjects. In passing, he also narrated the subject of Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety.

Did he offer that to you?
Not that he directly offered it to me, but we were just talking about films. And, finally he narrated this one I absolutely liked — a no-holds-barred, ba**sy entertainer, if I may say so. It's not the kind of film that Luv has made.

And Shamshera is the next one, which seems like a macho/dacoit film, the sort of image that has propelled Bollywood's major stars for front-benchers —Bachchan, Salman, or Sanjay Dutt, if you may. Did you consciously choose not to be that macho hero?
To be honest, I can't be that macho hero. I don't have that personality. Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn or Akshay Kumar bring macho-ness to any part. If they did Jagga Jasoos, they'd make Jagga Jasoos seem macho. I like the story [of Shamshera], set in 1800s, about a daku tribe, fighting for their rights, and it could add to my macho-ness on screen, given the intensity. It's got an aspirational vibe to it. Sanjay Dutt plays the antagonist. I'm excited about the part. It's very new.

That will be surreal again: Ranbir Kapoor with Sanjay Dutt?
I told the director that when he [Dutt] doesn't come on set, I could do his part as well —quickly get my prosthetic done, do all the over-the-shoulder shots. But I'm very happy about the two films I'm about to explore.

You've spoken about how you were tired of being that same guy film after film…
Yes, the coming-of-age films. I'm done with the Harry Potter phase in my life. It's time to take the next step.

But you've also spoken about how, growing up in a sheltered environment, yet playing characters so different from each other, you're always trying to explore something deeper within. That you almost force a conflict in your life, which helps you broaden your emotional bank. That's like your character from Rockstar, no?
No. There's a dialogue in Tamasha where my father says, "Jinki life mein conflict nahi hota, and they wish it upon themselves, ek din itni buri tarah woh conflict aayega, that you'll wish that you'd never wished for it." I like to play parts that emotionally challenge me, where you can really surrender. Roles that make you feel empty from inside, because that makes you feel alive. It's boring to superficially go on set every day, say some dialogue, romance an actress, sing a song. That's fun too. It's part of the deal, and you need to do that. But, I've always leaned towards the tragic, intense side. If you consider Rockstar and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani: Rockstar was a 100 times harder part, Yeh Jawaani was easy — coming on set, with positive energy, having fun with a great ensemble cast. It was a party. I got a lot of respect for Rockstar, within the industry, and the media. But the love I get for Yeh Jawaani is something that I'll never get for Rockstar. Today, if you saw [before this interview]...

Yes, that little fan-girl was crying uncontrollably when she met you.
She had seen Yeh Jawaani 250 times. Those are the films people like watching. They like watching entertainers — films that don't take themselves too seriously. We're not saving people's lives. We're entertainers, and that's what we should stick to doing.

I guess in a role like Yeh Jawaani, you have to channel your actual personality a lot more, in the same that way Shah Rukh and Salman do?
Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan are very easygoing with who they are. It's like wearing a T-shirt. You don't put on, or play any character. People love them for who they are first. That's hard for me to do. It's easier me to have crutches of a character, like in Barfi, Wake Up Sid (2009), or Rocket Singh (2009). You're channelling something emotionally, through something else. But to be yourself is very hard. Character-driven films are more exciting because you feel, "Okay, I can be this, and be that." But, to some extent, just to continue being you, is another challenge, which I need to get more comfortable with. I guess you have to believe in yourself. Yeh Jawaani was more about Ayan's belief in me.



Speaking of your personality, what I find really odd is that, at one level, you call yourself an introvert, and that you like to spend most of your time alone, not that you're lonely. But, since the age of 13, you've always been in a relationship. That means you also seek companionship all the time. Last year, you said, was when you were single for long, for the first time. I'm assuming that's changed?
See the thing is...

Has that changed?
There are so many questions here. I don't want to cause any misunderstanding, which I'll end up clearing for the next six years of my life! To find love, relationship, companionship repeatedly is very rare. When you isolate yourself so much from the world, you tend to find that one person you can devote, or direct every feeling and emotion towards. Because it comforts and shelters you. That one person makes your life easy. And sometimes it comes in the form of friendship. Most of the times, yes, it comes in the form of a partner.

You didn't answer my question...
That's my answer.

Are you single right now or not?
Erm... I'm not single. I'll never be single.

Are you dating Alia Bhatt?
Main iss sawal ka jawab dene ke liye Raazi nahi hoon!

That was a great answer! So many films of yours have have had so much gyan on relationships, is there one where the world-view is closest to your own?
Well, I do believe characters do extra-ordinary things only when they are in love. No selfish character will do anything extraordinary. And when you're young, starting out, mostly love stories are written for you. It's a great genre. What you stand for, believe about love, politics, people, society, kind of reflects in your films. Because I'm not really doing anything apart from my movies.

You obviously don't make any political statements.
I don't make any political statements because I don't follow politics. Politics makes no difference in my life. I'm not at the brunt of anything. I live a luxurious life. I don't have water, or housing problems. I don't have any issues, so who am I to comment on politics?

Your next film is Brahmastra, in which you play a superhero. You're a natural actor; will you ape a superhero? (Mohar Basu)
Brahmastra is not a superhero film. You can call it a supernatural romantic fairytale. And Ayan [Mukerji] will never write a character that has no truth in it. I think it's too early for me to talk about what Brahmastra is about, but Ayan's going to spend the next 10 years of his life on this trilogy. That's all he wants to do. So I'm really excited. We need your excitement also.

So that's the next 10 years of your life too?
Yes. What Ayan's doing is allowing me to do two films between every [edition of] Brahmastra. So I make this film every one-and-a-half years.

Is it overconfidence to plan a franchise even before the first one is a hit?
But he's written it in a format of three films. So when Brahmastra part 1 ends, you know it's not the end. There's so much more to it.

Are there any personal tricks that you apply on every film as an actor? (Veeral Pathak)
Apart from marrying the director's mind, and really understanding the text, I do a lot of silly things — like, it may sound silly to you that I wear one perfume for every character [I play]. I have a very strong sense of smell, so when I smell that fragrance, it kind of connects me to that character.

What were you wearing for Sanju?
I went to his [Dutt's] house and stole his perfume! It's this really strong, macho perfume that I would never wear otherwise. Every AD on the set was like, "What are you wearing?" But it helped me stay in character! Then, I'm very bad at remembering lines. When I have long dialogues, I stress over not how I'm looking, or how I'll perform, but that I don't get the dialogues wrong. That's very embarrassing for an actor. And that's happened only over the past two-three years. I used to be pretty good at this before. I'm very scared. Can't be old age, I'm only 35. What's wrong? Too much coffee? Is it bad habits?

Stoner?
That was another lifetime.

Drinking problems?
Another lifetime! Like I said, every film comes with a new process. Because Sanju was a biopic, dealing with a real-life character, you had to go deeper. During Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), I asked Karan Johar what my process should be, he said, "Just shut up and come on set with a big smile. That's what you are!"

So much of it could also come naturally to you, being the fourth-generation actor. Speaking of which, you are named after your grandfather; he was, in fact, 'Ranbir Raj Kapoor'?
That's because of this weird theory that all of our names should begin with R. I don't know why. They ran out of names eventually, I guess. My grandfather used to sign Ranbir Raj Kapoor, but never used that name. So Shammi Kapoor suggested I be named Ranbir!

Is there any particular story about Raj Kapoor that always get shared at family gatherings?
Lots of them. We speak about him as anyone would speak about their grandfather. For instance, the fact that post 8.30 pm, no one would want to cross paths with him — not even his wife or kids — because he would have three drinks, and then anyone who came around would get a lecture of their life. People would crawl by his door to avoid his gaze! I was six years old when he passed away, and I am told he was very fond of me. So whenever my mother would shout at me, he would call and be very upset with her.

I recently read a biography of Shammi Kapoor, and figured his life was as good as a movie. He was something else!
Sanjay Dutt actually used to tell me that he used to hear Shammi Kapoor stories the way we hear Dutt's stories! I really can't speak about those stories on this platform, because they're absolutely crazy!

What really connects you and Shammi Kapoor is that you are the only two Kapoors to have finished class 10, without having failed it once! True?
But I have done Standard 12 also! (Laughs) I remember I was assisting Dad on Aa Ab Laut Chalein, when my Class 10 results came out. We were in America. And I had secured 54 per cent. When my dadi [grandmother] saw it, she thought hamare ghar mein Einstein paida hua hai! She threw a party in America, gave me a lot of dollars to shop. I felt like a scholar in my family!

On the same (funny) note, did you see the recent Hindi version of Deadpool 2? There's a line there by Ranveer that thoroughly lampoons Bombay Velvet. It's not like it was the worst movie ever, and you take a lot of pot-shots at the film too.
No I didn't know about this [in Deadpool 2]. Well, the expectations were way too high with that film. There was this massive star I was being made out to be, a certain arrogance coming from the filmmakers—massive budget, and its subsequent earnings. That's really the thing. I take potshots at every film I do. I tasted such a big disaster with my very first film [Saawariya], being the butt of jokes at all award functions.

Literally.
Literally, yes! I was born in the industry, and understand the value of success, failure. You should own it, it's yours. When you are making a film, everybody is on a journey. You've spent 80-85 days, it seems the truth. It's only when you see the film, you say...

Was there any such point with Bombay Velvet, for instance?
When Karan [Johar] and I saw the film, a year before its release, we sat in the car and the first thing I asked was, "I know we are screwed, but how screwed are we?" Karan said, "Too screwed!"

So you knew?
Even if you know, you live on hope that maybe audiences will like it. I was shooting Wake Up Sid and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani simultaneously. Ayan's Wake Up Sid had a cool, young vibe. Ajab was being directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, who comes from a certain generation. All his ADs were older than him. I thought Wake Up was my 'Titanic'. It released in August, made Rs 40 crore, got me credibility. And then I was wary of Ajab, thinking my career would be over after that. Katrina always told me, "You're stupid; it's going to be a success. You should stand by it." When it released, it did double the numbers. That's when I realised that as a Bandra boy, who goes abroad to study, I don't know what India, or Indian cinema, is. This industry doesn't have a fixed formula.

From an audience perspective, what could have been most disappointing was your third film that same year: Rocket Singh!
I get so much love for that movie. But where were these people when the film released? I remember Aditya Chopra said that I should not promote the film, because I had already promoted two films that year; found commercial, and critical success. I thought Rocket Singh was my 'Munnabhai'. But there was something wrong with it. It didn't speak to people the way it should have. If it was a good movie, it would have done well.

Transcribed by Mohar Basu, Sonil Dedhia and Sonia Lulla

Ranbir Kapoor on how he met mimicry artist Sanket Bhosale, but chose not to go the route for his role in biopic
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; June 29, 2018)

While Ranbir Kapoor is receiving appreciation from all and sundry for slipping into the role of Sanjay Dutt for Sanju, the actor says the transformation was not easy. He reveals that as part of his prep, he met stand-up comic Dr Sanket Bhosale, who is known to mimic Dutt effortlessly.

Though all praise for Bhosale's mimicry skills, Kapoor points out that the Rajkumar Hirani-directed film required a different approach. "I met Sanket to understand what he thinks of Dutt, but in that very meeting, I realised this is not the path I want to take. He does a comic version of a drunk Sanjay Dutt, but I am not essaying that. I am playing him all the way from when he was 20 till today. We have explored his human side in the film. I also realised that I had to discover my own way of expressing the character," says the actor.

The biggest challenge that Kapoor faced was walking the fine line between "mimicking someone and trying to become the person". "A lot of people copy Sanjay sir and his style. So, my job became even harder because I didn't want to look like a caricature."

A self-confessed Dutt fan, it took Kapoor some time to gather confidence to slip into the former's shoes. The actor did "extensive homework" before facing the camera, which included getting Dutt's insights on the various chapters of his life. "It was my job as an actor to understand how this guy walks, how he talks. I would call Sanjay sir in the middle of the night, before the shoot, and ask him what he went through during a particular incident in his life. I would give my own interpretation to the script, but to hear it from the man himself is different."

All set for Sanju, Ranbir offers a sneak peek of what to expect from Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra trilogy
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; June 21, 2018)

He may have one of the biggest releases of the year in Sanju, but Ranbir Kapoor is just as excited about what may be one of his most ambitious films to date — Brahmastra — that is slated for release over the Independence Day weekend in 2019.

With the film being announced last year, rumours abounded that the Ayan Mukerji-directed venture was a superhero drama with Kapoor's character apparently having the superpower of unleashing fire from his palms. Talking to mid-day, Kapoor, however, clarifies that the Amitabh Bachchan and Alia Bhatt starrer doesn't exactly belong in the superhero genre. "It is actually a supernatural romantic fairy tale at heart. Ayan will never make a character that doesn’t have truth to it, or which is unbelievable. It’s too early to talk about the film, butitis something I am terribly excited about," gushes the actor.

Brahmastra marks his third outing with good friend and frequent collaborator Mukerji. With the runaway success of Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) behind them, it wasn’t surprising that producer Karan Johar agreed to back Mukerji's vision as a trilogy. "Apart from being my best friend and my favourite director, Ayan has worked on this film for six years. He is going to spend the next 10 years of his life on this trilogy. So when the first part is complete, the audience will know it’s not the end. That is something really exciting for me as an actor."

Kapoor adds that he will be taking a breather from the series by working on other projects between the instalments: "After the first film is out, we'll shoot the second part and then the third. Between every part, Ayan has allowed me to do two films, which is great."

As teaser of Sanju receives appreciation, Ranbir Kapoor on how he was hesitant to take on Sanjay Dutt's role for biopic
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; April 25, 2018)

With the teaser of Sanju having released yesterday, Ranbir Kapoor's seamless transformation into Sanjay Dutt has been appreciated by his fans and naysayers alike. While director Rajkumar Hirani was convinced that only Kapoor could do justice to the multi-dimensional character, the actor revealed that he was initially hesitant about taking up the role.

"When Raju sir [Hirani] told me about this film, my first instinct was that I won't be able to do this. I felt I didn't have the courage and the acting chops to pull off this role. This is not just an acting gig for me. I took up this film as an opportunity to be part of a story of someone whom I consider my icon," said Ranbir Kapoor of the project that will arguably go on to become one of the landmark films of his career.

Although he knew Dutt socially, Kapoor said the script brought to the fore the different facets of the star that he was otherwise unaware about. "As a family friend, I have always known a different Sanjay Dutt. As his fan, I knew him as a style icon, knew his mannerisms and his swag. But when I read the script, it shocked me. From his drug [abuse] to his terrorism controversy, from his equation with his father [Sunil Dutt] to how the passing away of his mother [Nargis Dutt] affected him, everything shocked me."

The biopic, which also stars Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Paresh Rawal and Manisha Koirala in prominent roles, sees Kapoor sport six different looks as he traces Dutt's journey from a 22-year-old debutant in Rocky (1981) to his release from jail in 2016. Talking about the physical transformation that he had to undergo for different portions of the movie, Kapoor said, "The shooting of the film was spaced out, so we had enough time to prepare. After every segment, I almost had a month to prepare for the next avatar. So, in that sense, it wasn't difficult at all."

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; April 9, 2018)

Looking at Ranbir Kapoor, who has lost oodles of weight, it’s difficult to believe that the actor is a foodie. But he explains that his next film, Brahmastra, requires him to appear lean. As a result, he is staying away from wheat and rice. Otherwise, the Kapoor scion gorges on Junglee Mutton and Paaya, whenever the khandaan gets together. “You can tell from the sizes of my family members that we love to eat,” smiles Ranbir.

His earliest memory is of his grandmother preparing macaroni and cheese when he was a kid. “Certain food memories stay with you and when you have the dish again, it takes you back to that happy place,” he recalls fondly. The star confesses that he is a huge fan of Bhajiya Pav. “I like it more than Vada Pav. In fact, I have grown up on Cheese Dosa — I would love eating from the roadside Chinese food stalls. Another favourite snack is Dabeli, everything that all of us Mumbaikars connect with,” he says.

Each time he has street food, he has a chilled glass of Pepsi. “I’m not saying that because I’m endorsing it, but because that’s what I grew up on and believe in,” he tells us earnestly.

Quiz him if he has given up street food owing to his profession, which demands a strict diet and he replies sheepishly, “I do have it, I can’t sacrifice it! But yes, I can’t eat as often as I used to in school or in college. There’s a Vada Pav wala outside Film City. Whenever I shoot there, I make it a point to have a mix of Bhajiya Pav and Vada Pav, which I love.”

As Ranbir is so fond of food, has he tried to learn cooking? “When I was a student abroad, I used to make eggs. I would start making an omelette, but it would end up as scrambled egg or bhurji! Theek toh hota nahi tha, but that is something I can cook,” he says candidly before smiling and adding, “I don’t have the talent that is required to cook, but I have the talent to appreciate food.”

The 35-year-old star also states that it’s relevant to have a solid friend circle in your life. “It’s very important, especially in my profession because they keep you grounded, make you humane, and give you a reality check,” he says. Are all his pals from the industry? “My only close friend from the industry is probably Ayan Mukerji. Apart from him, all of them are from my school days,” he reveals.

Ask him what he does to unwind, and the Brahmastra actor says that he either goes for a drive, watches a movie or plays football with friends. “That’s all you need, when friends are together,” he concludes.

Ranbir Kapoor on dad, dating, Dutt, and the idea behind his directorial debut
Mayank Shekhar (MID-DAY; July 16, 2017)

Ranbir Kapoor is a reluctant star. And we don’t mean it in the same way as many refer to Rahul Gandhi as a reluctant politician. A 24x7 actor, and in the case of Jagga Jasoos, a producer, Ranbir is very much out there — taking calls, doing interviews, on-camera, off-camera, through the evening, at Bandra’s Mehboob studio, where we meet. The reluctance has more to do with his laconic, reticent personality. He usually pauses during the interview, awaits the next question, rather than elaborately answering the previous one. That way, he reminds you more of Aamir Khan until, thankfully, Kiran Rao happened to him. And, as Ranbir admits it himself, he’s certainly nothing like Rishi Kapoor, his wildly exuberant father! Excerpt from the interview:

About a year ago, you’d said in an interview that you’re in a “pause or metamorphosis phase, somewhere between “what if” and “f*** it”. Still in the same state?
Well, no. At the time, I was also starting a new film, the (Sanjay) Dutt biopic, and I’m nearly completing it now. So I got to live a new person, and a new experience. I feel more alive now.

But what does “somewhere between ‘what if’ and ‘f*** it’” mean anyway?
I was a bit lost. I didn’t know how to understand and deal with failures. I didn’t know if the choices (I was making) were wrong. I was questioning my instincts. So you’re at that crossroad where you don’t know what’s happening, in terms of having control over your life. And I think that phase is really important — the confusion, turmoil, or to be stuck between ‘what if’ and ‘f*** it’. And it’s your own battle to fight. Some people come out of it sooner, some take time. Fortunately, the medium I’m in, films — which I love the most — changes me a lot, from phase-to-phase. Whether it’s the experience of (making) a film; or how inspired and excited I am (during the process). Dutt really gave me that.

You’d also mentioned that you were tired of seeing yourself on screen. Did this come from the fact that a lot of your films have followed very similar narratives: a lost boy, confused about everything, including love, finally comes of age. Was that choice in itself a coincidence?
I think that’s the phase I was in, earlier on. So those were the parts I was choosing. And those were the best parts being offered. Also, somewhere I was working with the same filmmakers — Imtiaz (Rockstar, Tamasha), Ayan (Wake Up Sid, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani), Karan (Ae Dil Hai Mushkil) — because they had stories to tell, that I wanted to be a part of. But yes, I have to change that. I can’t ‘come of age’ anymore! I can’t walk out of a marriage with tears in my eyes. I can’t pursue an ambition, be selfish, and have a girl make me realise what my true dreams are, so I can come back to her!

A year ago was also a time when three films of yours back-to-back had bombed, Besharam...
Bombay Velvet.

Also Roy. You were right on top of that poster. Now whether those movies were good/ bad is subjective. All that the film industry cares about is if you’re the star, then your poster must guarantee bums on seats in the first weekend.
To be honest, Besharam opened to Rs 21 crore on Day 1. So, we count that out. And even Roy, for whatever it’s worth, opened to Rs 11 crore. But yes, Bombay Velvet did not open well at all. And I do take blame for that. But as I said, I had no control over it. Bombay Velvet was a film I loved on paper; it was a film that I would stand by. But there is no formula. I don’t know what’s gonna work, or not.



Do you think this whole obsession with the star system is antithetical to huge risk-taking; has that taken us back over the years?
Not at all. I can’t follow somebody else’s career path. In my career, what’s always paid off have been the risks. When I’ve done something formulaic like Besharam, I’ve always fallen flat on my face. I just go by gut instinct, which was the same that made me sign on Rocket Singh, Wake Up Sid, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Rockstar, Rajneeti, and Barfi. And it was the same instinct that made me sign on Besharam and Anjaana Anjaani. So, this is the person I am. I am going to have lots of failures in my life; hopefully I’ll have some successes too. But I can’t really plan anything. I’m just spontaneously living my dream.

Is it then more about the craft, parts, performances, in terms of living the dream, as it were?
Not at all. You need bums on seats. I’m not here to prove to people that I’m a great actor, and that I only get great reviews, and awards. At the end (of the day), it’s about box-office collections — about how many people know you as a star, and come to see you in a movie. But I have a long way to go. I’m still struggling to find that rhythm. And I hope that I struggle for a long time. The day it gets a little easy, I might get contented.

Speaking of distinction between star and actor, you have attempted to bridge the two. For instance, your dad says you actually went back to acting school in the US simply to get the stammer right for Jagga Jasoos.
It’s my job as an actor to do my preparation. Eventually the audience has to connect with my character. And if my character stammers, I’d try to get it right. I can’t look foolish on screen. But, that’d be the same if I was a driver — I would have to know how to drive, both a manual and an automatic car, not a big deal. As for the star-actor issue, or trying to become a star while remaining an actor, I think you just have to become capable at your job. Everything else follows. If you’re honest, a good person, and your intentions are correct, you will become a star. You can’t really concentrate on ‘ki mein star kaise banoonga’, and begin to design things around it; I don’t think that works out well for anybody.

You went to Lee Strasberg school (in New York) and studied method acting. How much of that have you applied in your films?
Not much, you know. Having come back home after an under-grad course in direction (from the US), I was around 20, a star-kid, getting attention from a lot of directors willing to work with me. But I was too young then. My father asked me if I might want to go back to the US and do something for a year. I went to the Lee Strasberg Institute for nine months, to learn the ‘method’ (style/school of acting). It’s not something I thoroughly endorse myself. I think acting is not something you can learn. In a practical form, yes (it helps) that you’re working with other actors, doing scenes, and so you’re putting it (the craft) into a method. But the Strasberg or Stanislavsky ‘method’ ( acting) itself is not something I buy. As an actor, you have to develop your own method — if you’re intelligent, have had good exposure in life, and can surrender to a moment, or material. You don’t need a curriculum or syllabus.

Would you do drugs to play Sanjay Dutt, for instance?
(Laughs) It’s acting, and you have (an actual) sense of it, it always helps, and might seem truer. But I’m not really going to kill somebody to know what it feels like for a scene! I’m not that deep into the ‘method’. Playing Dutt, I’d want to see how I can get into the soul of the character. The look is easy…


The look, which leaked online, was frickin’ nuts!
Yeah! We worked really hard at it, doing four months of prosthetic (make-up) trials, lots of disappointments, thinking that it’s not going to work out. But you need to put in that time and effort. It’s a daunting task to play someone like Sanjay Dutt, who everybody knows anyway.

We met Dutt recently; he said he was astounded to see you during the shoot.
It was surreal for me. You’re acting like him, and the director calls cut, you look up, and suddenly there’s Sanjay Dutt actually sitting behind the monitor! But then I’d got so obsessed with him. Every time I’d see him, I’d start observing him like a hawk — the way he scratches his beard, twitches his eye, drinks water, hugs… It'd become a bit of a sickness for me. But that obsession is necessary for acting, or any form of art — that madness to get something right. You may still fall flat on your face, but it's necessary.

The other biopic you were working on was Kishore Kumar's, with Anurag Basu. We saw you in the Asian Paint ad recently, where you were clearly channeling Kishore, you even looked like him in it. True?
Yes, Prasoon Pandey had directed that ad, and his reference was Kishore Kumar. But I was really upset that the Kishore biopic didn't happen at the time. It's such an amazing story waiting to be told, and he's such a genius. He's also someone that many in today's generation have forgotten. At that time, we didn't get the permission from certain real-life people to use (the story). It was a bit of a bu***r. But I hope that film gets made, and I'd love to play Kishore Kumar.

As stars, inaccessible Kishore, or Dutt, for that matter, held much aura/mystique around them. The way you've played out your career so far — not on social media, never done TV — is there a conscious attempt to take stardom back to how it once used to be, there being distance between audience, work, and the person?
Well, I'm trying to. And yes, that is the intention. But it's really hard, because today, people want data. They want to consume things, and if they like you, they want info on you, and talk to you, since there is access.

I think that really comes in the way of your job, especially if you're an actor, because you're not yourself on screen. You're playing different parts. I may be wrong, and maybe the order of the day is to be on social network, market yourself, and have direct contact with the audience. It's my natural instinct to stay away from all of this. And I'm happy. My life is more peaceful, simpler. I've fewer things to pretend about.

Your dad, on the other hand, is a social media star, because he basically doesn't give a s***. We read your foreword for his autobiography, where you hope that you don't become a dad like him. Now that's being just as publicly honest as he is.
I can't be like my father. He's one of a kind. He's so honest, which is which is admirable. He’ll have no guilt or baggage in his life. He’ll always be a free man. We’re all, at some level, hypocrites. If there’s a political question at a press conference, I’ll have a hypocritical answer, or I’ll clam up, or wriggle out of it. But he won’t. And he regards himself as junta. So if he has an opinion on politics, sports, entertainment, ban on a certain food, he will give it. He feels he has that freedom of speech. Unfortunately he’s an actor, so that gets blown out of proportion, or gets taken too seriously. I don’t think I have that frankness, openness.

Are you more like your mother in that sense?
My personality is more like hers than my father’s. My sister (Riddhima) is more like my father.

Did you also grow up being closer to your mom?
I think that’s true (for kids) in most Indian families, where the father is away at work, and is a strict person. Growing up, we hardly saw our father. Back then, they used to do two shifts a day, six movies a year. We could only see him during holidays — in Ooty, Kashmir or Switzerland. He’d be shooting there, and we needed a holiday, so we’d go where he was.

You have spoken about how marital problems between your parents really affected you as a kid. Does that remain a sore point still?
Not at all. Besides the problems they went through, the greater thing is how they came out of it. I still see so much passion, love and respect between my parents. My father is still so possessive about her. My mother is still so inquisitive about how he’s doing. It’s been 38 years. So, no, I don’t think there’s a scar. I feel happy when I see them together. They’ve found a healthy companionship.

According to psychology, a possible fallout with parents having marital issues, and the kid being too close to the mother, is that as an adult that child turns into a “love avoidant” — as against a “ love junkie”, which mostly happens when you’ve been neglected by parents while growing up. Do you find yourself being either?
No, I think I’m different with different people, and different phases. Everybody wants attention, companionship, and to feel loved.

I’m talking in terms of relationships.
Relationships only. There are varying degrees of what you expect (from a person). As you grow older, you understand more about life, and how much you have to give (back) in a relationship. What I was like while dating a girl in school, and what I am now, and what I will be to my girlfriend later or my wife, will be very different. There is no way to measure it. But there is a different sense of evolvement so far as love in my life is concerned.

Do you go on dates with people outside films, or regular folk, as it were?
Unfortunately I don’t. I’m so obsessed with my films, my life at the movies, and working through the year, that I don’t really get to meet people, unless I travel, or it’s a chance encounter. Usually the only people you get to meet are from the (film) industry. And mostly you interact with actresses. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. Film people are amazing, but I’d like to, you know, go on a date…

With an architect, or a doctor…
Yeah that’d be lovely. I think it’ll be hard for that person though, because of the kind of lives we live. There’ll be a lot of insecurities. But if you meet somebody who’s sorted, and if you’re yourself sorted…

How would you even meet them? Surely you're not Tinder, unless you have a fake account there as well, like the one on Instagram.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, I’m not on Tinder. Wahan tak ki naubat aayee nahin abhi tak!

You make it sound like it’s a bad thing to be on Tinder.
No, actually, I shouldn’t say that. It’s not a bad thing to be on Tinder. Tinder is doing good to people — it’s getting them together. But I’m happy falling in love with my own company. I’ve always been like that. I don’t mind traveling, having breakfast, lunch, dinner, alone. Sure, being with someone is amazing. There is nothing more beautiful than that. But being alone is something I also enjoy very much.

Would you consider yourself a loner, in that sense?
Not dramatically, but yeah. I’m constantly in a bit of a meditative state — I don’t have a thought (in my head), or stress, anxiety problems, or insecurities. So I’m at peace with myself.

You’ve spoken about how it bothers you that you’re considered a Casanova, when you’re really not.
It used to bother me before. But I’ve also understood that this is how show-business and media operate. The media made me a star even before I deserved it. So this is a small price to pay. I’ve dated actresses, so there’ll be some interest over where you had dinner, or went on a holiday. It comes with the territory. There was a time I used to get bitter about it. I was hating on them going, “How dare they?” But now it’s fine. As long as people don’t judge me for what’s written about.

Of course they will.
But I have no control over that. I can only hope my work over-rides all of it.

Have you ever had a personal publicist?
I never had a PR person because I really don’t know how to play the game. If I knew how to market myself, I definitely would. I don’t know how to be exciting; apart from the parts I play. Films give me an outlet to express myself, and become interesting. I like to become non-interesting after, so I can save the interesting parts for my movies. My personality is boring. I am an introvert.

At 31, you said by 25, you’d want to have a movie, as a director, out of the way; at 34, are you close to checking that box?
I always feel I’m close, but then I get lazy. I have a brilliant idea, which I’ve been sharing with my director friends, and others who’re close. I just don’t have the strong discipline, and gift, to write. It’s still definitely on my to-do list — a big ambition. Having said that, the more I work with good directors— (Anurag) Basu, (Raju) Hirani, Ayan (Mukerji) — I realize how far away I’m from it. I just don’t want to direct a film, since I’ve said it, or it’s cool. I want to be good at it. I want a story that I wish to express myself through. I think I have it…

So you do have the idea for your directorial debut.
Yes, I do. The genre is fantasy-romance. I don’t mean fantasy in the sense that it’d take the audience away to another time or place that they can’t connect with. I mean a love story with a fantasy quality — that’s idealistic, magical. I’ve always leaned towards the genre.

MID-DAY (July 13, 2017)

After superstar Salman Khan decided to compensate the distributors over Tubelight’s debacle, looks like Ranbir Kapoor is following in his footsteps. The actor said that if he makes money out of a film which hasn’t fared well at the box-office, he will definitely pay back the distributors.

At a promotional event of his upcoming film, Jagga Jasoos, Kapoor said, “The trend has been going on since my grandfather’s (Raj Kapoor) time in the 1950s... The style of making films where everyone makes money, not just the producers, but also distributors and exhibitors. It is a healthy exercise. If someone loses money on something and you have made money out of it, it’s good to compensate. But that depends on the person and film.”

Kapoor cited the example of his grandfather who followed a similar practice. “When Mera Naam Joker (1970) released, distributors incurred losses. So when Bobby (1973) released, my grandfather gave a bigger share to the distributors than the exhibitors. Personally, if my film fails and I am making money out of it, then I will pay back the distributors,” said Kapoor.

Prachita Pandey (DNA; July 1, 2017)

Ranbir Kapoor has made unusual career choices. From Saawariya to Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year and from Barfi to Rockstar, most of his unique choices have paid off. What he lost in terms of commercial success, he made up for it in terms of critical acclaim and respect. He has even had commercial films like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil to his credit. But the one thing that’s been missing from his repertoire is a family entertainer.

Recently, Anil Kapoor emphasised the importance of family entertainers for longevity of an actor’s career. Anil’s long career is proof of this theory. None of Ranbir’s films fall in that category. But he feels that an actor can’t really design his career, “You know when YJHD happened I didn’t design it. It just happened that Ayan (Mukerji) wrote that film and he came to me. Whatever the film became, it became without us knowing it. So, you can’t really create that. I did Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which was kind of a love story. The film I’m going to do with Ayan (Dragon), in that, too, love is a very important theme. Sanjay Dutt biopic is, of course, a biopic. So, I’m not really designing or planning anything ke achcha abhi maine ye film ki toh iske baad comedy karunga ya romantic film karunga. As directors come, stories which you like, you do!”

Nothing’s bigger than the story
Is the current breed of actors staying away from the family entertainer zone? Ranbir says, “It all depends on the filmmaker and the kind of stories that come to you. Sometimes, the story appeals to you. So the story is the bigger thing, there’s nothing bigger than that.”

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; June 30, 2017)

It's been four years since Anurag Basu’s fantasy-drama, Jagga Jasoos, first went on floors, with a cast that included, then love birds, Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. But, when reports of trouble in the duo’s paradise hit headlines, the shooting schedule of Basu’s ambitious project was also wrecked. Dates were altered, overseas schedules were frequently canned, and news of the release date being deferred became commonplace.

“We [Ranbir, Anurag and Katrina] would often discuss the progress of the film,” Ranbir, who is also co-producing the film, tells mid-day. “Often, we would wonder if we should shelve it. But then, in the end, I’d go back to the time I first heard the story, when it made me feel amazing. And that took us through the journey. When I saw the film, I realised that it turned out exactly like my director had envisioned it, like he had narrated it four years ago. It felt really good.”

The negative press surrounding the unfortunate events that plagued the film became a cause for worry, the actor says. “There are some films which take time to make. I have shot for Jagga Jasoos for 150 days. But, in the past, I have shot for other films for as long. This film only took longer to come together. We had to battle the negative reports surrounding the film. I would be lying if I said that it didn’t bother me. In the end, we decided to concentrate on the positives and move ahead.”

The actor plays a teenager with resorts to singing to express himself better. Even with many acclaimed performances to his credit, Ranbir says getting the nuances right was difficult. “The challenge was to get the stammering right. It can look fake and sound jarring. But, I went with the flow.”

Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; June 23, 2017)

Ranbir Kapoor stays away from social media. His reticent nature doesn’t gel with a platform that demands exhibitionism. However, he also believes it’s an effective tool to track what his contemporaries in the film industry are up to. Kapoor revealed what we have suspected for a while. He is on Instagram, but not as himself.

Ranbir Kapoor says he holds anonymous accounts on social media platforms, which is a smart way of tracking the work and lives of his contemporaries, including former girlfriend Katrina Kaif, who turned prolific with her posts, even offering daily updates about her life, as soon as she joined the platform in April. In fact, Kapoor says he has more than one Insta account.

“Yes, I am active on the photosharing site. I am a stalker, constantly aware of all that’s happening in the industry. In fact, I was Katrina’s third follower when she joined Instagram,” says the actor.

Kapoor even claims that some of the pictures that Kaif posted were suggested by him. “I told her which photos to post, but she refuses to give me credit. After every post, I call her and discuss the purpose of sharing it. I make sure Katrina takes social media seriously. I am also sure I would do a better job than her if I ever got onto social media,” he says, we are not sure if in jest or seriously.

Why not take the plunge then? “I am an introvert. Shy. I can’t pretend, or project my life in a fun way to engage the audience. I can’t get myself to promote my work and person for the sake of doing it.” Is that a comment on Kaif?

Sometimes, you pray for something and it doesn't work. But your hope in God doesn't die, explains Ranbir Kapoor
Jitesh Pillai (TIMES LIFE; November 13, 2016)

Does it help or hamper you as an actor when you are going through an emotional crisis at work?
I've never carried my personal life to work. Like in my grandfather's (Raj Kapoor) Mera Naam Joker, the joker's mother dies but he performs and makes people laugh. A joker, to me, signifies an actor and an actor signifies a joker. He needs to hide behind the make-up and entertain people. That's his job. Yes, you have emotional memories, which you can use for certain scenes. But an actor doesn't have that luxury to give into his moods.

What's your take on love given the fact that so many relationships have broken around you, including your own?
Love is a bit like God. Sometimes you pray for something and it doesn't work. But your hope in God doesn't die. Love's like that too. If relationships break down, you cannot turn bitter about love. A person can fall in love umpteen times. Even if it doesn't work it's instrumental in your growth as a person, it enriches you. Love keeps you alive. Happiness is real only when it's shared. No matter how much success you've achieved, how much luxury you enjoy, how much fame you gather, it won't matter if you don't have a person to share it with.

And marriage?
Yes, marriage is a question today. Young people question its worth. But I believe in the sanctity of marriage. Making a life around marriage and children is healthy. Otherwise we'd be like animals. It will become too wild. A certain boundary is healthy. Marriage provides that.

Would it be easier for an actor to date someone outside the industry?
It's a double-edge sword. If you date someone outside the industry, it's unfair to the person. The person is shocked with the gossip, seeing his her partner romancing others. Whereas if you're with an actor, then there's insecurity, your own rise and fall, the other person's success and failure to deal with. It's not the other person's fault if the relationship doesn't work. It's your fault. So, whether the partner is from the industry or outside it, you have to sort out yourself first.

You portray heartbreak well...
I guess, I've lot of pent-up emotions inside, which I can't express. I channelise those better through my characters. For me, to channelise pain, tears or heartbreak, is easier than playing fun characters. I found it harder to play characters in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and Besharam. Pain comes naturally to me.

Did you always find it hard to express?
Always. It's a childhood thing. Manufacturing defect hai! My mother (Neetu Kapoor) says that once when I was four I saw a snake. I didn't cry or scream. I just put my hand on my heart and felt my heartbeats racing. That was how my body expressed. Whoever is with me, whether it's my partner, my friend or my parents, I give them credit for jhelloing (enduring) me. It's hard to understand me.

So you're emotionally unavailable...
I'm emotionally closed, not unavailable. I'm emotional but I find it hard to express myself whether it's happiness, sadness or anxiety. It would be a big waste of money putting me with a shrink. (Laughs)

Is it too late to correct it now?
Yes. In my relationship with my parents, with Ayan (Mukerji), with my directors, with Imtiaz (Ali), there are set parameters. They work around my flaws. As a son, as a friend, as a partner, I do have to better myself. Also, I'm not stubborn. I like to be the first person to say sorry as well. I get shaken up with conflict. If I know my mother or friend is upset I get anxious. I don't know how to deal with it. Even if a director says something, I'm sensitive towards it. I guess, they don't know that they don't have to keep me happy but at peace. I don't thrive on conflict.

So peace is what makes you happy?
I'm looking for peace now. Maybe, I've grown older. When you're younger you have the energy to deal with it. I find peace sitting in my grandmother's (Krishna Kapoor) place, sitting on the swing, looking at nature, playing with my dogs or just being alone. I'm not uncomfortable with loneliness. I'm happy taking a holiday by myself. I'm happy going to a restaurant alone, eating alone, visiting a theatre alone.

Does your grandmother share memories of Raj Kapoor?
All the time. She's an untapped gem, by far the most hilarious person I've met. She narrates things with so much humour and grace that you don't feel awkward laughing at it. She sacrificed a lot, her ego, her feelings of jealousy. She went through a lot of pain and made peace with it. She supported my grandfather and he realised that. That's the next step of love. When a man makes a mistake and still finds that person standing by him, he starts appreciating her. Love goes beyond passion or lust. It becomes a bit godly. In the latter part of their lives, Raj Kapoor was more in love with Krishnaji than she was with him.

Do you see the same thing with your mother in relation to your dad?
Yes. But but with my parents it's very real, which is also beautiful. But real is not as beautiful as the legend. You fantasise a legend; you add your own background score to it.

Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; October 26, 2016)