In a dank room of Mumbai's famous Mehboob Studio in Bandra a location almost as old and traditional as the film industry itself we await the arrival of Ranbir Kapoor an actor who has raked up quite an enviable film repertoire, and has delivered even more enviable performances in just ten years. As the wait continues, we wonder how this great actor and one of Indian cinema's fastest-rising superstars would be in real life. Would he be withdrawn and reticent life some of the great quirky roles he's brought to life? Or would he be affable and a complete charmer like some of his other magnetic onscreen personas? More importantly, how easy or tough was it going to be to strike a sweet spot with Ranbir so that he would be open to all our questions we had planned for him?
We soon realized that our anxiety was totally unfounded as it wasn't us but Ranbir who instantly struck that sweet spot in our conversation, placing us completely at ease in the most-unassuming and disarming fashion imaginable. Such was the man's charm and candor that we didn't even know when our discourse metamorphosed from a formal interview to a pally chat.
Like most of these conversations, the ice was broken by a standard introductory question of asking the celeb in question to speak about their upcoming film. But how could any talks about Jagga Jasoos's filming process be complete without touching upon its interminable delays. Ranbir, being the honest soul that he is, made no bones about the film going way over time or the delays being frustrating, but was also quick to add that he'd again love to collaborate with his Director, Anurag Basu.
"It was mentally tiring because of the amount of patience involved while waiting for the film to finally get over. I was prepared about Anurag Basu's working style because I had already worked with him in Barfi, which had taken two years to complete. But nobody was prepared for this film to take so long. Admittedly, he does a lot of work for you. He creates your performance as an actor with his camera angles, his music, his treatment, his overall vision. And I've had a good creative collaboration with him, and am excited to work with him again should the opportunity arise in the future. He's a very hardworking, passionate and inspiring filmmaker, and is always doing something new on set.
"The thing is that he doesn't like rehearsals or writing everything down. So almost everything is improvised, and that takes a lot of time. That being said, it was a test of our collective patience. We all got frustrated, lost hope, and had even thought of shelving the film because of losing interest at one point. But what kept us going was Basu's persistence. He was adamant about telling this story, and he deserves all the success that this film may bring him.
Moving on, we started speaking about the film being a musical and the fact that it's a completely new genre for the Indian audience. Considering these factors, we wanted to know what sort of apprehensions may have been there while shooting the film, and if Ranbir and the rest of the team are happy with the outcome.
"Actually, there was excitement when shooting the film. It's a true-blue musical and an adventure film the kind that encompasses the Disney prototype of movies, like Sleeping Beauty, Bambi, Jungle Book. So, the film's a musical, it's emotional, there's family values in it, it entertains you. The film's just like a moving cartoon a live-picture cartoon. It'll appeal to kids as well as adults a universal audience will like it. So, if anything, there was a lot of excitement. Of course, the risk factor is there because nobody in India has done this before. But, I think, that's also exciting since we've tried something new. We may fall flat on our faces because there's no precedent to it. But it's still exciting to me as a producer and actor to be a part of such a project.
So, how difficult was it as a producer to cope with the film's delays, especially since most production houses these days believe in setting time constraints for films, announce release date even before a film begins, and complete the entire process anywhere between two to six months.
"My father (Rishi Kapoor) was completely against this process (the time takes to shoot Jagga Jasoos). He used to take my case every time; keep telling me, As a producer, people's money is involved, your reputation is also at stake.' But, see, I'm an actor, and that's my skill set. I've got no skill set as a producer to control other things that take place. So, I'm not an actor who'll tell the Director that I'm gonna give him fifty days to complete the film. I understand that filmmaking, at its heart, requires its own time and has its own destiny. And, eventually, when the audience sees a film, it doesn't matter if it took five years or fifty days. All that matters is if the film is good. So, I've always followed this principle in my career, and I'll continue to do so. But having said that, I think Jagga Jasoos was made in an irresponsible way. See it's a musical and the genre was very new for the entire cast and crew. So getting it right took a lot of time for all of us. But, we all could have still being more responsible about the whole process.
Another topic that we were curious to know his thoughts on was why his career choices have always been so different from his contemporaries, and if they've ever been any reservation about not doing too many out-an-out commercial films.
"I've been really lucky that good filmmakers have come to me with new, interesting, and challenging roles. In fact, whenever I've tried to go by formula, like say a Besharam, it has backfired. Such films don't come naturally to me. The riskier parts, the not-so-heroic parts, those kinds of roles appeal to me. I like playing the under-hero. But, mostly, I go by instinct. If I like the story and the Director's vision, I go for it.
Next, we touched upon the one burning issue that has been the talking point among most in the media and film industry, and has divided the industry down the middle nepotism. Since he's from a family that has been associated with the industry for decades, and continues to produce actors who enter the industry (his cousin, Aadar jain, will be making his debut soon), who better to speak on the topic and share his thoughts about it.
"Of course, nepotism exists in the film industry. I'm a product of nepotism. I'm here today and got opportunities because of nepotism, because of my father. My father got opportunities because of his father. And his father got opportunities because of his father's father. And I'd also like to give my children a platform should they choose to become actors. I'd give them the backing to follow their dreams. So, I see it as my family's business since so many years. But nepotism does exist, and it's unfair to people who are probably way more talented than me because people like us do get more opportunities and attention. See, it's a very big example, but if Lionel Messi's son chooses to follow his father's footsteps, you'd want to watch him play. You'd want to see if he has his father's talent. So, if any person in any field has accomplished something, you'll want to see if their kin is as good as the. That curiosity always exists.
But we were also keen to know why the media and audience are pinpointing nepotism in the film industry, when it does exist everywhere.
"The film industry is very glamorous; it's spoken about at all times, and is always in your face. It's a very exciting industry. So, people like to de debate about what happens within it. But having said that, I also feel that nepotism exists a lot more in the film industry.
Considering how different his choices have been to those of the rest of his family, we were interested to know his father (Rishi Kapoor) reacts to them, and it he ever suggests that Ranbir should be making different career choices.
"My father mostly takes care of my financial side because I don't understand that. But, creatively, he's never involved in my decisions. He does pull me up because I do so many risky films. He wants me to do more masala films because that's the kind of school-of-thought he has come up with and has lived his life by. But if I follow that, I'll fall flat on my face. I have my own perspective about my life and career, and I follow my instincts. But my mother is a way more-healthier creative partner in my journey. I give her most of my scripts, and she always tells me about the ones she finds interesting. But she, too, never tries to influence my decisions.
There was a period when Ranbir, not so long ago, when Ranbir had delivered a series of flops soon after reaching lofty highs in his career. So, how difficult was it for him to cope with failure as an actor, and did the offers begin drying up as his failures kept mounting?
"I firmly believe that you're as good as your last film. But I've always got so much of support from the industry because I guess people like my work, and they understand my intentions as an actor. Even during my bad phase, I had a Karan Johar, a Rajkumar Hirani, an Anurag Basu approach me, and these are our premiere filmmakers. So, yes, I accepted my failures, understood them, and it was a hard time. But it was also a very important time. You see, the first few years of an actor, when you're in your initial phase, everything is so new you're young, going with the flow, fame and adulation suddenly comes your way, and you don't think much. But when you're, say, ten years into your career; that's where a saturation point sets in. You start thinking about how you take it to the next step.
"So, I think it's very important to accept that and to accept your failures and to not be in denial of them because that's when you'll grow as an actor, and your career will move forward. And, ultimately, those films also happened because I chose them. Nobody put a gun to my head and made me do them. So, they are a part of me. Likewise, when I've delivered successful films, I've not been affected by them, too, because with every successful film, every actor mostly thinks, Phew...I'm saved...Now, till the next one comes.'
From being tagged as the next superstar of Hindi cinema after a spate of highly successful film to being written off by certain sections of the media and audience to boasting one of the most-exciting lineup of films of any actor how does Ranbir deal with his oscillating fortunes, and does he still retain the dream of being the next big superstar.
"It's a case of survival in this industry, and I've survived for ten years and hope to survive for the next fifteen or twenty and that's it I just wanna survive, want to do good work, work with good people. I've always been tagged as the next superstar for a long time, but I've not really reached that stage. I had an ambition to become the biggest superstar in this country, but that a very immature thought at the time. It takes a lot to reach that level. Now, when I've completed ten years of my career, I admire the efforts of the Khans, of Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn. For so long, they've been delivering, constantly reinventing themselves, entertaining the audience, and it's really admirable. It's very hard to do."
What's the next step after acting?
"Before I became an actor, I went to a film school with the intention of always wanting to be a Director. But I studied various aspects of filmmaking there, returned to India, assisted some big names, and then, became an actor and found some success as an actor. But every year, I used to say that in the next two years I would direct a film. However, that, too, was a very premature thought. I can't direct till I have a story to tell, and I believe that I'm not a writer, which is another shortcoming of mine. So, once I get my hands on a story, where I feel I could express myself and make a nice film out of, then, and then only, would I contemplate about direction. Prior to that it would be very silly of me to direct a film just for the sake of trying it. I want it to come from a very natural place.
Finally, we inquired about Ranbir's feelings now that Jagga is releasing at long last.
"I'm still feeling disbelief that Jagga is finally releasing. I feel that Anurag can call me back on set at any time (we all share a good laugh at this comment). He's actually shooting some patchwork today, although the film is going to be out in five days. He's just that kind of filmmaker; someone who works in chaos. He'll always be unprepared shoot, will always shoot at the last minute. So, I'm still prepared to be called back (again jokes Ranbir). I've had four last shots in this film on four different days. Everyone clapped for me, I hugged everyone, then, I was asked to return to the sets. So, I could never believe it when I gave my last shot. In fact, till the day the film releases, I won't believe that it's releasing.
With that, the lights faded and the recorders were shut down on one-of-the-best interview we've taken to date.
Jagga Jasoos releases worldwide on 14th July 2017.
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
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