Ranbir Kapoor reveals that he wants to make a biopic on grandfather Raj Kapoor

Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor said on Tuesday that he is "interested" in making a biographical feature film about his grandfather, Hindi cinema veteran Raj Kapoor.

The actor, a member of the prestigious Kapoor film family's fourth generation, was speaking at a panel discussion following the launch of the book 'Raj Kapoor: The Master At Work' in the capital. 

According to Pranika Sharma, the book was written by filmmaker Rahul Rawail, who worked as an assistant director to Raj Kapoor on films such as 'Bobby.' 

When asked what he would say to his grandfather if he were still alive, Ranbir Kapoor replied, "I would like to have a drink with him, just chat with him about life."

"I'm very interested in making a biopic about him. There are a lot of things that were probably off the record when Rahul uncle was working with him. I'm sure Rahul uncle has many stories that he didn't include in the book "He stated. 

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu launched the memoir at India Habitat Centre's Stein Auditorium here on account of the late filmmaker's 97th birth anniversary.

Raj Kapoor, known as the Showman of Hindi Cinema, was an actor, director, and producer best known for films such as 'Aag,' 'Shree 420,' 'Mera Naam Joker,' and 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili,' among others. The legendary filmmaker, who received the Padma Bhushan and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, died in 1988 at the age of 63. 

Rawail, who was friends with his mentor's younger sons Rishi and Rajiv Kapoor, stated that he would like to write another book about "all three sons (of Raj Kapoor)." 

While Rishi Kapoor died in April 2020 after a two-year battle with cancer, Rajiv Kapoor died in February of this year from a heart attack. 

"I'd write a book called 'Kapoor and Sons,'" said the director, referring to Rishi Kapoor's 2016 film of the same name. 

Raj Kapoor's eldest son, veteran actor-director Randhir Kapoor, who was also present at the book launch, stated that cinema was his father's only passion. 

"Actually, we didn't matter to him. He only witnessed our progress "He remarked. 

"He ate, he sang, he drank, he did everything... only for cinema," Randhir Kapoor, who wrote the foreword to the book, added. 

Growing up, there were many stories about Raj Kapoor, most of which were about his glory, according to Ranbir Kapoor. 

"Rahul's uncle has painted him realistically. When you help someone at work, you learn more about that person. Rahul uncle has nicely put his insanity into perspective." 

On Wednesday, the actor, who is in the capital to launch the motion poster for his upcoming film "Brahmastra," remembered his father, actor Rishi Kapoor, as a "strict but passionate" man. 

"He was passionate about everything, including his wife, family, food, alcohol, and movies. He used to enjoy playing computer bridge while listening to old Hindi songs on the radio. Apart from all the cinematic values, what my sister and I are most proud of are the moral values he instilled in us. He was a wonderful father, and we will miss him greatly." 

Randhir Kapoor stated that when his father's film "Mera Naam Joker," which he directed, produced, and starred in, bombed at the box office and received negative reviews, the late director was so disheartened that he refused to celebrate his birthday. 

However, he claims that the film, about a clown who must make his audience laugh at the expense of his own sorrows, is now the "biggest profit point in my organization." 

"I make the most money from 'Mera Naam Joker,' and it is the first choice of every distributor of mine," he added. 

Randhir Kapoor believes the philosophical drama, which also starred Simi Garewal, Padmini, and Russian actor Kseniya Ryabinkina, was ahead of its time. 

Despite initial criticism for its excessively long running time of 248 minutes, 'Mera Naam Joker' went on to become a cult classic and is regarded as one of Raj Kapoor's best films as well as one of the best Bollywood films of the twentieth century. 

"Perhaps the film arrived a little too soon. People complain that the image was too long. It was only a few minutes longer than 'Sangam.' 'Sangam' has the potential to be a huge success; I don't believe the length was an issue. People did not understand the film at the time." 

Randhir Kapoor stated that "the Raj Kapoor era of films is over" because the commercial aspect of films now trumps creativity. 

"Today, people prefer to work in a film which completes in 13 days rather than 300 days. Like Rahul said that Raj Kapoor started shooting for 'Bobby' at 6.30 in the morning and at 6.45 am, the day was over. He didn't calculate money. I remember he got the rooftops of Gulmarg painted during the shooting of 'Bobby' because they were not looking nice. That was personal cinema."

Ranbir Kapoor agreed with his uncle in part, saying he had heard stories about Raj Kapoor's house being mortgaged and his grandmother Krishna Kapoor's jewelry being sold to complete a film. 

He went on to defend new-age directors, saying, "Not to say that my generation of filmmakers is solely concerned with the commercial aspect... When I was assisting Mr. (Sanjay Leela) Bhansali (on 'Black,' he treated me as an assistant director. I used to be on my knees for hours, he used to hit us, he used to abuse us... but that only hardens you and prepares you for the world."