RANBIR KAPOOR 27, ACTOR
I'm just two years old in the industry and my journey has just started. But so far, it has lived up to my expectations. I was confident that it would happen for me. Please note, I said confident and not over-confident. I knew I bring in a lot of honesty, passion and commitment to my work. I knew that it will lead me somewhere. Acting is the only thing I am good at, after all.
It feels good to be living my dream but I've got some reality checks too. The fan following is great, girls screaming my name feels wonderful. But that's just the end product of a very hard life. An actor's life is not easy. The glamour is only on the outside, there are way too many sacrifices involved. In this industry, nobody cares whether you are a nice person or not, they only care if your work is good.
My goal is to be the biggest actor in the world. My role model is my grandfather, Mr Raj Kapoor. At the same time, I realise that it'll take me multiple births to achieve half of what he did. A lot of people ask me if my famous last name is an advantage or a cross to bear. I think it's the biggest blessing. I had it easy because of my last name. Directors were already aware of me, they were curious about me. It was easy to get that first break but once that is out of the way, it's a fresh battle. Everyone has to make a distinct mark and you are known for your own achievements and not just your last name.
All my directors tell me that I'm very focused. In school, I used to get hauled up for lacking focus! That's because chemistry and history did nothing to me. Movies are my only passion in life. It's because I'm doing what I love that I'm so focused about my career. That's my only tip to youngsters: Don't compromise. Take up a job only if you love it.
Films drive me. I don't want to make $100 billion or own an airplane. I want to work with great directors and make some awesome movies. When I started out, I had a list of 10 directors that I wanted to work with. In two years, I've worked with five. Mr Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Check. Mr Rajkumar Santoshi. Check. Mr Shimit Amin. Check. Next year, I'm working with Mr Prakash Jha in Rajniti; I'm also doing Imtiaz Ali's next and Anurag Basu's next.
I've been lucky with my roles. In all my films till date, I've played the title roles— from Saawariya to Bachna Ae Haseeno and Wake Up Sid, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani to Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year. It's been a wonderful beginning and this year especially has been very good. I want to keep at it, mix up my roles and work with different directors. I want to grab all the opportunities coming my way. I'll never let go off a good film.
Every day, I learn something new about myself. The commercial failure of Rocket Singh really pained me. I truly believed in the film, I believed in its nobility. But I take heart in its critical acclaim. Maybe I should stick to films that cater to my fan base which is basically young boys and girls? But then I'm typecasting myself! There are no perfect answers. I'll learn as I go along. But yes, one thing I know that I will continue to follow my heart.
Now the challenge is not to get bored. I have to strive higher because there is a lot to achieve. I've no other passion apart from films. Maybe football. But that doesn't consume me wholeheartedly. I'm a workaholic. I don't like taking holidays.
I'm very sure that one day I'll direct a film. As of now it's an immature ambition, a lazy ambition. Guess, it'll happen when it has to. My parents are very supportive of whatever decision I take. I try and have one meal a day with them. My mom is my biggest fan, my dad my biggest critic and my sister, Riddhima my best PR agent—she is forever spreading the good word about me in her circle! I hope I never let them down.
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