The Prince of Bollywood

Inder Jeet S ‘Prince’
The great grandson of legendary Prithviraj Kapoor, grand son of Bollywood’s one and only showman Raj Kapoor and son of famous star-couple Neetu and Rishi, Ranbir Kapoor who entered Bollywood as a chocolate hero has grown up as an actor. Of course, Ranbir is not your quintessential good-looker hero. But yes, Ranbir has that something that makes it near-impossible not to like him. It is the special ingredient that builds a winning Bollywood career-sheer star presence. Talent can be honed, but this is something one has to be born with. Right from his debut in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Saawaria’’, Ranbir‘s potential for superstardom was spotted and lauded by industry and critics alike. In the words of Imtiaz Ali, “Ranbir seems to be a thinking actor.’’
Ranbir’s debut film “Saawariya’’ (2007) was a damp-squib at the box office. But Ranbir rose above the film’s fate and won the filmfare award for the best male debut.
In his short career of about six years, Ranbir has pushed the envelope by doing different roles like Raj Kumar Santoshi’s “Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani’’ which had him doing laugh riot with Katrina Kaif. He played a ‘Badmash’ lover act in “Bachna Ae Haseeno’’. Ayaan Mukerjee’s (debut as director) ‘ Wake Up Sid’’ saw him acting out the eternal coming of age tale of the lazy boy who finds his life’s direction. In “Rocket Singh : Salesman of the year’’, he was seen as a guy struggling to find his roots in the corporate world. Rock Star’’ had him playing a Jat boy from Delhi who love to play guitar. When people tell him that in order to get the best out of him, he should go through a heart break. So he deliberately falls in love with Nargis. He surprised critics and viewers alike in “Burfi’’. His youthful acts in “Anjana Anjaani’’ and quite recently in “Yeh Jawaani Hain Deewani’’ were hailed by one and all. Prakash Jha’s “Rajneeti’’ which was a political thriller had Ranbir playing a role with shades of grey. “My character in Rajneeti’’ has no songs, no scenes in slow motion and no heroine on my arms. This was the first anti-hero film of my career’’ says Ranbir and adds, “I would love to do an out and out negative film. I want to play with characters. I want to explore myself. People ask me if I want to do an action film because action films are in vouge, I would definitely do one in some time, but not when it is being followed as a trend. I will do it when I feel it is the best time for me to do such a role. I hope I can grow with every role I do. I want to be the biggest star. I want to be the best actor and I feel I am on the right path. Ranbir Kapoor waited till the age of 24 before making his debut. His first brush with a film set was at the age of 14 when he was a clapper boy for “Prem Granth’’, one of the last leading roles for his father. Later he went to assist directors, one of the most memorable stints of which was Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Black’’.
I’ve studied film making and acting for four years, but nothing can match upto that priceless experience. I watched Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee exercise their craft. I learnt what goes on in a director’s mind when he is envisioning a scene, and I know what it takes to get a set ready, rebuild it, and the passion film makig demands’’ says Ranbir Kapoor.
However when “Saawariyan’’ the debt making film of Ranbir flopped miserably at the box office it gave a severe shock to him. Film was rejected by the viewers and also was ripped apart by critics. The film, inspired by the Russian short story “White Nights’’ flew over most people’s head. In the words of Ranbir, “I still believe in the film, but at that point of time my family saw me through. It was a lesson for not taking anything for granted’’.
Ranbir’s grand father was the youngest director at his time and Ranbir too harbours the dream of wielding the megaphone. “I want to direct but the problem is I don’t think I can pen my thoughts and vision on paper beautifully. I want to make something like “Shree 420’’ and “Jagte Raho’’ I want to make films that would be relatable, that would spread joy and love. Yes, I would also want to star in my own films without a doubt. And I won’t want to do it when my acting career is drying up. I want to do it within next few years at the moment my acting projects keep me busy, but direction is high on my list of priorities says Ranbir who is determined to revive R K banner once again.
Ranbir’s latest released movie “Be Sharam’’ is a comedy caper where he plays a street thug named Babli who is expert in stealing cars. Only he ends up stealing the car of his love interest Tara (Pallavi Sharda) Hot on Babli’s heels are police inspector Chulbul Chautale (Rishi Kapoor) and his associate Bulbul Chautala (Neetu Singh) Javeed Jaffrey plays main villain ‘Hawala King’ ‘Bheem Singh Chandel’’. Film has been directed by Abhinav Singh Kashyap (of “Dabbang’’ fame)
Tail Piece : Director Abhinav Kashyap is directing Ranbir in “Bombay Velvet’’ and has plans to release it in three parts just like “Dhoom’’ & “Krishh’’- I, II & III

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