Ranbir Kapoor

Following his work on Black, Sanjay Leela Bhansali cast Ranbir Kapoor as the lead in Saawariya (2007), a tragic romance co-starring Sonam Kapoor and Rani Mukerji. The film, inspired by Raj Kapoor’s iconic “tramp” roles, was the first Indian movie produced by a Hollywood studio (Sony Pictures Entertainment) and was highly anticipated. However, it failed commercially and received negative reviews, though Kapoor’s performance was appreciated. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut.

Despite the setback, Kapoor secured a lead role in Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008), a romantic comedy about a womanizer entangled with three women, played by Bipasha Basu, Minissha Lamba, and Deepika Padukone. The film was his first commercial success, and critics noted his “puppy-dog charm” as a promising trait for a Bollywood lead.

In 2009, Kapoor had a breakthrough year with three films. In Wake Up Sid, he played a lazy, privileged youth undergoing personal growth, a role that earned him critical praise and commercial success. He followed it with Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, a slapstick comedy that became one of the highest-grossing films of the year. His final release, Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year, saw him in a dramatic role as an aspiring salesman. While the film underperformed at the box office, Kapoor’s sincere performance won acclaim. He was honored with the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor for all three films and received two Best Actor nominations.

Kapoor’s first release of 2010, Raajneeti, was a political drama inspired by The Mahabharata and The Godfather, where he played a reluctant heir drawn into politics. His portrayal earned strong reviews, with critics praising his understated yet intense performance. The film became a major commercial success, and Kapoor received another Filmfare nomination.

Later that year, he starred alongside Priyanka Chopra in Anjaana Anjaani, a romantic drama about two strangers with suicidal tendencies. Though it performed moderately well at the box office, the film received mixed reviews, with critics noting Kapoor’s struggle with an underdeveloped role.

After a brief appearance in Chillar Party (2011), Ranbir Kapoor starred in Rockstar (2011), playing Janardhan “Jordan” Jakhar, a small-town musician who rises to international fame. To prepare, he immersed himself in Jat culture and learned to play the guitar, training at A.R. Rahman’s music studio. While the film received mixed reviews, Kapoor’s performance was universally praised, with critics calling it one of his best. He won multiple Best Actor awards, including Filmfare, Screen, and IIFA. The film grossed ₹1.07 billion (US$12 million), ranking among the year’s highest earners.

In 2012, Kapoor delivered another critically and commercially successful performance in Barfi!, where he portrayed a deaf and mute man caught in a love triangle with characters played by Ileana D’Cruz and Priyanka Chopra. Drawing inspiration from Charlie Chaplin and his grandfather Raj Kapoor, he brought charm and depth to the role. Barfi! became his first film to cross ₹1 billion domestically and was India’s official entry for the Oscars. He won consecutive Best Actor awards at Filmfare, Screen, and IIFA.

Kapoor continued his success in 2013 with Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, directed by Ayan Mukerji. Starring alongside Deepika Padukone, Kalki Koechlin, and Aditya Roy Kapur, he played a carefree photographer afraid of commitment. The film became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of all time, earning ₹2.95 billion (US$34 million). Critics found the film formulaic but praised Kapoor and Padukone’s chemistry, earning him another Filmfare Best Actor nomination.

However, his second release that year, Besharam, where he played a petty thief alongside his real-life parents, was a critical and commercial disaster. Critics called it one of his worst films, marking a rare setback in his otherwise successful career trajectory.

After a year-long break, Ranbir Kapoor returned in Roy (2015), playing a mysterious thief in the romantic thriller. The film was critically panned, with reviews calling it dull and pretentious. His struggles at the box office continued with Bombay Velvet (2015), directed by Anurag Kashyap. Kapoor portrayed a boxer-turned-criminal in 1960s Mumbai, drawing inspiration from Johnny Walker’s tapori style in Mr. & Mrs. ’55. Despite its ambitious scale and ₹1.2 billion (US$14 million) budget, the film underperformed and received mixed reviews. Critics noted Kapoor’s sincerity but felt his portrayal lacked depth. The film was later screened at international festivals.

Kapoor reunited with Deepika Padukone in Tamasha (2015), directed by Imtiaz Ali, playing an artistically inclined man trapped in a mundane life. Though the film received mixed reviews and failed commercially, Kapoor’s performance was widely praised. In 2016, he found success with Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, co-starring Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai. The romantic drama, exploring themes of unrequited love, became one of the year’s top earners. While critics were divided on the film, Kapoor’s performance earned him Filmfare nominations for both Tamasha and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

Venturing into production, Kapoor co-founded Picture Shuru Productions and starred in Jagga Jasoos (2017), a musical mystery about a teenager searching for his missing stepfather. The film faced numerous production delays and on-set tensions, including his breakup with co-star Katrina Kaif. While critics appreciated its ambition, the film struggled commercially, leading Kapoor to regret his foray into production.

His career resurgence came with Sanju (2018), Rajkumar Hirani’s biopic of Sanjay Dutt. The film depicted Dutt’s struggles with drugs, his complex relationship with his father, and legal troubles. Kapoor avoided caricaturing Dutt, undergoing physical transformations for different phases of the actor’s life. The film received mixed-to-positive reviews, with praise for Kapoor’s performance, though some critics felt it overly sympathized with Dutt. Sanju became Kapoor’s highest-grossing film, earning over ₹5.79 billion (US$67 million), and won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.

After Sanju, Ranbir Kapoor returned to the screen in 2022 after a four-year hiatus, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, his father’s passing, and the prolonged production of two big-budget films. He first appeared in Shamshera, a period action film set in the 1800s, where he played a dual role. The film was poorly received, with critics advising him to be more selective with scripts. It failed at the box office, adding to Kapoor’s list of commercial disappointments.

His next release, Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva, directed by Ayan Mukerji, was a fantasy epic and the first in a planned trilogy. Co-starring Alia Bhatt, the film took five years to complete and was one of the most expensive Indian films ever made. Though reviews for Kapoor’s performance and chemistry with Bhatt were mixed, the film became the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2022, earning ₹4.31 billion (US$50 million).

In 2023, Kapoor returned to romantic comedies with Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, co-starring Shraddha Kapoor. The film received positive reviews for his performance and was a moderate commercial success. Seeking a drastic shift from his usual roles, he starred in Animal (2023), an action drama directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. Kapoor portrayed a violent and emotionally troubled man, a character that challenged him as an actor. The film sparked debate over its portrayal of toxic masculinity, with The Guardian calling his role “one of the vilest in cinema history.” Despite the controversy, Kapoor’s performance was praised, and Animal became his highest-grossing film, surpassing ₹9 billion (US$100 million). He won his fourth Filmfare Award for Best Actor.

Looking ahead, Kapoor will portray Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part Ramayana adaptation and reunite with Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Love & War, co-starring Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal.

Off-screen work

Beyond acting, Ranbir Kapoor is an avid football enthusiast and philanthropist. He serves as the vice-captain of the All Stars Football Club, a celebrity team that raises funds for charity, and has played matches to support causes like the Magic Funds Organisation, which aids underprivileged children. In 2014, he co-acquired Mumbai City FC, a team in the Indian Super League, alongside chartered accountant Bimal Parekh. That same year, he joined digital music company Saavn as a content and programming adviser. In 2016, Kapoor participated in the documentary series Girls with Goals to promote YUWA, an all-girls football team in Jharkhand. In 2024, he expanded his ventures by launching the lifestyle brand ARKS.

Kapoor is committed to social causes, particularly the empowerment of women. He is the goodwill ambassador of Shabana Azmi’s Mijwan Welfare Society, an NGO that supports women’s empowerment. His environmental contributions include donating to the Community Water Initiative in 2011. He has also been involved in health awareness campaigns, including a short film on breast cancer and NDTV’s Marks for Sports, which promotes fitness.

Over the years, Kapoor has participated in several charity auctions and fundraising initiatives. In 2013, he auctioned an interactive session with himself on eBay to support Save the Children, aiding flood-affected families in Uttarakhand. He also appeared in a campaign by the National Film Development Corporation of India to promote children’s education. In 2014, he auctioned the phiran he wore in Rockstar, donating the proceeds to rebuild flood-hit Kashmir and Assam. He also led a fundraising effort for Nepal earthquake victims in 2015 and donated 2,000 raincoats to the Mumbai Traffic Police during the monsoon. In 2018, he collaborated with Aamir Khan’s Paani Foundation to assist farmers facing drought in Maharashtra.