Ranbir Kapoor reveals the secret to his survival in Bollywood
The promotional run of Jagga Jasoos has been dominated by Ranbir Kapoor speaking about the long delay in making his maiden production and how he subsequently feels he isn’t fit to don the producer’s hat. Kapoor acknowledges that the numerous delays result in negative publicity, but he stands by the film including the ones which have failed earlier.
“I have always learned more from my failures than my successes,” said Kapoor. “When you have a successful film, your usual reaction is "Phew, Bach gaye" until the next (release). When you have a failure, you have to take account of your life, where you are going wrong, accept defeat and that kind of motivates you to do better.”
Kapoor reminds that his cinematic journey began with a dud in Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed romantic drama Saawariya. Thereafter Kapoor enjoyed a string of moderate successes (Bachna Ae Haseeno) and critically acclaimed work (Wake Up Sid! and Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year) until he hit a career high with Barfi!, Rockstar and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.
However, poor showings of Besharam and Bombay Velvet ended Kapoor’s great run until Karan Johar came to the rescue with Ae Dil Hai Mushkil last year. “I take ownership of my failures,” he said.
When asked what advice he values the most, he recalls ones given by two superstars. Said Kapoor, “After Wake Up Sid, Shah Rukh told me, "Don’t be too good too soon, you have a long way to go." I didn’t really understand what he was saying (then). But now I know he was talking about how an actor’s job is survival and sustenance; that’s what shows your character as an artist.”
But before that there was Aamir Khan who encouraged him to travel across the country before joining show business. “He said, Look at your culture, your people and different cities. It will only help you in your work. Back then I didn’t understand it, for I only wanted to go to London and New York. Today, I repent that. Now I am just borrowing from my directors, their experiences and what they have seen and I am channelising it through me and my work.”
Anurag Basu is one of them. Rajkumar Hirani is another, whose Sanjay Dutt biopic will keep Kapoor occupied and his tresses long until he boards Ayan Mukerji’s superhero film with Alia Bhatt. With a decade completed in Bollywood, Kapoor says he is still figuring himself out in the movies. “You cannot be skillful. You have to be edgy and raw,” the actor said.
(Courtesy of Mail Today.)