WHAT’S RANBIR WAITING FOR?

Actor Ranbir Kapoor says that he would direct a film eventually; needs to learn to be selfless like filmmakers

The more I’ve worked with good directors, the more I’ve realised that I have so much to learn Ranbir Kapoor, actor

Ranbir Kapoor could have very well been a director, had he had a story to tell. The actor, who started out his career in Bollywood as an assistant director on films such as Prem Granth (1996), Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999) and Black (2005), wishes to direct someday, and is looking for a story to share with the world.

“My intention and my ambition before becoming an actor was to become a director. But I don’t have a story to tell, which I need,” says Ranbir. But that’s not the only thing keeping him away from the director’s seat. “It (direction) is also a very selfless job. You work for so many people and so many departments, and you give them the credit; that’s very hard. The more I’ve worked with good directors, the more I’ve realised that I have so much to learn. As an actor, you’re only concerned with what you’re doing. Direction is a whole new ball game. I’m far from it right now,” he adds.

Come back to acting and Ranbir’s last few films haven’t really done well at the box office. His last release, Bombay Velvet, met with similar fate and one aspect that was criticised greatly was the length of the Anurag Kashyap directorial. But the 32-year-old begs to differ. “Great films are always lengthy. Take, for example, Lagaan (2001), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) and Hum Aapke Hain Koun…! (1994). Shorter films are more popcorn films. People don’t take them seriously. If a film has a good story and engages the audience, [then] hours don’t matter as long as there is an emotional connect with the characters,” he says.