‘Kasar reh gayi, work harder’

That’s what Ranbir Kapoor says his actor-father Rishi Kapoor, tells him after seeing his movies

Ranbir Kapoor says it is hard to please his father, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, but her mother Neetu has always been her biggest fan. The actor said his father never compliments him and only pushes him to work harder.

An actor first

Rishi, however, recently praised Ranbir’s portrayal of Sanjay Dutt in upcoming biopic, Sanju and the young actor says he was touched by it. “Besides being my father, he is also an actor I really admire and respect... He never tells me to my face that I’ve done good work, not that I expect it either. But when you hear such words coming from him, it is incredible, it really moved me, made me emotional. Every father wants their son to do well, but my father is very careful that he won’t give compliments for free. He always tells us ‘kasar reh gayi hai, work harder’ (There is still scope for improvement, work harder)’. This was a wonderful gift,” Ranbir said.

The actor added that his mother loves his performance in all his films. “My mother is my biggest fan, whatever I do she loves. When she saw Bombay Velvet she thought it was the greatest film in the world,” he said.

Reuniting with Sonam

Sanju, directed by Rajkumar Hirani, also reunites Ranbir with his Saawariya co-star Sonam Kapoor after a decade. They both started their career together with the Sanjay Leela Bhansali film.

“We never got an opportunity to work together again, but Sonam is still the same, she hasn’t changed. Her personality is still the same. The only thing which has changed is that she has become an even better actress. Both of us really enjoyed working with each other,” he said.

No social media please

Ranbir Kapoor, who isn’t on any social media platform unlike other actors of his generation, says he is fine with being away from it. Asked whether his availability on social media would have got extra mileage for his film, he said, “I don’t think so. On social media, I will be showing myself and not really what the film is. I agree that through social media, you have a reach to the larger audience but I don’t miss it and I am fine being away from it. Never say never, may be tomorrow, I will come but right now, I am happy being away from it.”

Ranbir, who has gone nude for one scene in Sanju when he is being interrogated by police, asked if was intimidated while shooting that scene, said: “I went nude in my first film (Saawariya) itself when my towel dropped. I am very shy in my real life but when the cameras are on, I am not shy as I am portraying a character so you have to be nude in your emotions and physically.”