Ranbir Kapoor, a prominent figure in Bollywood, recently acknowledged the role of nepotism in his career while emphasizing the importance of hard work and individual merit. Speaking at the 'Celebrate Cinema 2025' festival at Whistling Woods, during a session titled 'Tribute to Legendary Filmmakers Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt', Kapoor reflected on his privileged background and the responsibilities that came with it.
"I'm a product of nepotism, and I got it very easy in my life," Kapoor admitted. He is the son of actors Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor, and the grandson of the legendary Raj Kapoor. Coming from the fourth generation of the Kapoor film dynasty, he acknowledged the opportunities his family name afforded him. However, he stressed that lineage alone was not a guarantee of success.
Kapoor elaborated on the necessity of forging his own path, stating, "I always had to work hard because I realized that I come from a family like this, and if I don't have an individualistic approach and if I don't make a name for myself, I'll not succeed in the film industry". He highlighted the importance of proving his talent independently to create his own identity.
The actor also pointed out that while his family has experienced considerable success, there have also been failures. "You guys celebrate a lot of the successes of my family, but there are a lot of failures also, and as much as you learn from the successes, you also learn from the failures," he said.
Reflecting on his upbringing, Kapoor shared that he considered his family life to be normal. He grew up surrounded by creative individuals, recalling how music directors, singers, and lyricists would visit his grandfather, Raj Kapoor, to discuss his films. "There used to be a lot of arguments, but not of the domestic kind. They would debate over a scene or the correct lyrics of a song," Kapoor reminisced.
Kapoor also shared his perspective on acting, emphasizing the need for adaptability. "As actors, you've to be malleable. You can't say, 'I work only in this way'. Every filmmaker has a different way of telling a story, and filmmaking is a director's medium," he stated. He believes that actors should do their best to fulfill a director's vision and avoid getting stuck in one particular method.
Furthermore, Kapoor echoed the sentiment of his great-grandfather, Prithviraj Kapoor, emphasizing the collaborative nature of filmmaking. He quoted, "Filmmaking is not dictatorship, it's a marriage of so many people and artists coming together, and believing in something, and believing in inspiring people". He also shared Prithviraj Kapoor's inspiring words, "Kala desh ki seva mein" (Art in the service of the nation).
On the professional front, Ranbir Kapoor is preparing for the release of Nitesh Tiwari's "Ramayana" and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Love & War". "Love & War" is reportedly inspired by the film "Sangam" and will also star Vicky Kaushal and Alia Bhatt. "Ramayana", a mega-budget mythological epic, is expected to be released on Diwali next year.
