Bollywood actor on Sunday attended a film festival showcasing and celebrating his grandfather, veteran filmmaker Raj Kapoor’s films. Ranbir who was born into the most prominent film families in India, entered the film industry carrying the weight of the legacy. We must say, he has surely lived up to the expectation and has taken the legacy further ranging from his parents Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh to his great-grandfather, Prithviraj Kapoor. Legendary actor-filmmaker Raj Kapoor is one of the most renowned influential figures in Indian cinema and is termed as ‘greatest showman of Indian cinema’.
At the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), was seen conversing with filmmaker Rahul Rawail wherein he spoke about his grandfather’s films which inspired him both as an artiste and a viewer. Ranbir revealed that Shree 420 (1955) and Jagte Raho (1956) are two of his all-time favourite Raj Kapoor films. He said, ‘I don’t believe in remakes, I believe a film is made to the best of its capabilities and you should not touch it, especially Raj Kapoor’s films. But I would love to have a take on ‘Shree 420′, like I said it’s my favourite film’.
He also said that he would like to try his hand at remaking Sangam (1964). Ranbir who did a filmmaking course from New York’s School of Visual Arts said that he still harbours a burning ambition to venture into direction. During IFFI 2024, Ranbir stated that he had discussed creating biopic of Raj Kapoor with many, including filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He said, ‘I talk to a lot of people, including Sanjay Leela Bhansali, about how to make a biopic on Mr. Raj Kapoor. A biopic is not just something which highlights the success in a person’s life, you truly have to portray someone’s life honestly—the lows, struggles, and relationship dynamics’.
He added saying, ‘My grandfather directed, acted, produced, wrote, and edited a film called Aag at the age of 24. I’m 42 today and I still don’t have the courage to direct a film. I produced a movie called ‘Jagga Jasoos’, which didn’t work at the box office. But I’m waiting for a story to come because a director should make a movie only if he has a story to tell, not just for the sake of making a movie.’
He continued saying, ‘I realised that the opportunities for being an actor came easily. I come from a privileged setting, I had the opportunities, and I didn’t want to take that for granted.’ Ranbir revealed that he wanted director Raj Kapoor to direct Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. He even said that he drew inspiration from his grandfather for his role in Barfi. Ranbir said, ‘I don’t know if it (‘Barfi!’) would be his kind of cinema. He was a man of every kind of cinema, but I would definitely have liked to show him that film and have a discussion on that. If you really want to take any kind of legacy forward, you have to do it in a very individualistic approach… It’s the way you say it, it’s your perception of life. It’s what you have absorbed as a person. And then you want to just flow into that story. So, (you could be) heavily influenced, but you have to be individualistic to make a mark in any way.’ Ranbir revealed that he is a bigger fan of Raj Kapoor the director than the actor.
