I’M ONLY AS GOOD AS MY DIRECTOR: RANBIR

Kapoor says if a filmmaker doesn’t direct him well, he can be a ‘rubbish’ actor; adds working in Sanju has changed his perspective of how films should be made

It won’t be an understatement to say that Ranbir Kapoor had hit a rough patch in his career before Sanju (it has made over ₹340 crore in India) changed things for good. After all, before Rajkumar Hirani’s blockbuster, the actor worked in box-office dampeners such as Besharam (2013), Roy (2015), Bombay Velvet (2015), Tamasha (2015) and Jagga Jasoos (2017). But besides tasting a big commercial success, Ranbir has had many “invaluable” takeaways from the time he worked with Hirani.

“When you collaborate with Raju sir, you understand the value and importance he attaches to his audience and cinema,” says Ranbir. “It’s clear that he is not making films for himself, his friend circle, awards or even critics; he is making them only for people – a large number of audiences. In that sense, it has been an amazing experience to see that first-hand. It has changed my perspective of how films should be made and what kind of films you [an actor] should be a part of.”

STORIES AND EMOTIONS

Ranbir has so far teamed up with filmmakers who have different styles — be it Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Karan Johar, Imtiaz Ali, Ayan Mukerji and now Hirani — but the actor feels the “emotional quotient” is what binds them all together. “I have realised that the only reason why every good filmmaker I have worked with is successful is because they have their own stories to tell. The craft is something that is secondary. The fact that they always have something to tell through their stories and they are very emotionally attached to it as well as its emotions makes them stand out,” the actor says.

But out of all of them, how would he define Hirani? “Raju sir is an extremely simple and good person. He may be really famous and successful, but his top priority is to entertain the audience. And that’s his simple philosophy. He wants to make people laugh as well as cry and also give them something, a message, to take home. That’s something he is very clear about,” says Ranbir, who turned 36 on September 28.

SHAPING THE CRAFT

In fact, the Kapoor scion admits that it’s the directors who shape him as an actor. “I have always maintained that if I am good in a film, it’s only because of the director. If the directors direct me well, I am good. If they don’t, I can be a rubbish actor. I am only as good as the director of a film,” says Ranbir, adding that all the filmmakers he has worked with are “really attached to the philosophy of the film, and what they want their film to say”.

The actor says, “Plus, there is deep passion, desire and lots of hard work involved in making a good, wholesome film. They aren’t arrogant, and are very much in touch with reality. Also, they are rooted in our country’s ethos. They don’t have western influences, and I am so lucky that I can borrow from their personalities and experiences, and channel them as an actor.”

I have realised that the only reason why every good filmmaker I have worked with is successful is because they have their own stories to tell. The craft is something that is secondary. RANBIR KAPOOR. ACTOR

PHOTO: AFP