Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor, who celebrated his 31st birthday last Saturday, is in no hurry to get married. The heartthrob, who recently confirmed he’s dating actress Katrina Kaif, after pictures of the two vacationing in Spain were leaked to the press, believes that marriage should “happen naturally”.
“It’s a natural process but marriage shouldn’t be dictated by what age you have reached. When it happens, it should happen naturally,” said Kapoor in an interview with tabloid!.
Currently, he’s inundated with work — a fact that he loves. Besharam, his latest film, releases in the UAE this Wednesday and is proof of his workaholic existence.
“Watch me turn into this complete besharam [shameless] person. I have shed all my inhibitions for this role,” said Kapoor. Directed by Anubahv Kashyap, the comedy about a street-smart mechanic in Delhi unites Kapoor with his parents Rishi and Neetu for the first time on-screen. tabloid! chats to him about being shameless, his parents and of course the controversy surrounding his Spain holiday ...
What should we expect from Besharam?
I am extremely besharam [shameless] in front of the camera. So you can expect a family entertainer. There’s a bit of everything in this one. There’s action, comedy, romance and drama. Every emotion that you associate with a Bollywood film is right here in Besharam. It’s a movie that will guarantee entertainment.
What attracted you to the role of Babli?
It’s the first time in my career that I am playing an over-the-top character. Babli is larger than life and it’s a fun film. While I heard the script being narrated, I was laughing at all the right places. The tagline of the film says Babli isn’t afraid of getting insulted and he’s not looking for respect. So that sums up my character, who’s street-smart. I play this mechanic who’s sly and lives in an orphanage in Delhi.
The trailers indicate a bit of toilet humour. Were you comfortable with acting crass?
Babli is innately vulgar and repulsive. There was no question of being uncomfortable because I was having way too much fun mouthing corny and crass dialogues. Since I have done all that before, it felt good. But the interesting bit about the vulgarity here is that it’s vulgarity that you can watch with your family and not be embarrassed about. To be besharam in front of the camera, you need to be immensely confident and have a self-esteem that hits the roof. So the credit here goes to the director for instilling that confidence in me to play a larger than life character.
It’s the first time that you are acting alongside your parents Rishi and Neetu Kapoor. What was it like having parents around you?
I was a nervous wreck when I heard about the casting decisions. But when we started filming, I realised they are such brilliant professionals that they never bring home to the set. We were just excited about playing our characters individually and the space that the film occupied. The dynamics we share in the film is of a hilarious nature. They play cops who are out to get Babli. This movie gave me an opportunity to see how my dad worked. I have heard about it in the past but never had a chance to work with him. So it was a dream come true.
Your father Rishi Kapoor is known to pull the rug out from any young actor with his performances. Was there any hint of rivalry between father and son?
He will always be better than me. But in Besharam, we both have held the rug tightly. There’s a bit of a healthy tug of war between us. The good thing is that the healthy rivalry wasn’t one-sided. There’s no fear because this is a comedy that will let all characters shine through.
Pallavi Sharda, the leading lady in Besharam, seems to be completely overshadowed by the Kapoors. Is this predominantly a film to showcase the Kapoor greatness?
Not at all. Besharam is predominantly a love story. About being overshadowed, it’s natural because she is a new and nobody knows her yet. Right now, people are talking about my family coming together. But once they see the film, they will start talking about her.
Your previous release, Barfi!, scooped all the prominent awards. Do you think Besharam is awards material?
I want to increase the number of viewers who come to watch me perform. For that to happen, you need to try all genres. With an entertainer like Besharam, I want to just increase my market value. Having said that when I set out to act in Barfi!, I didn’t do it for the awards. It was the role that attracted me to it and I just worked hard to make the character come alive. For Besharam, it’s that same sentiment. When director Abhinav [Kashyap] narrated the story, I was impressed by the simplicity of the tale. He didn’t try to shove morals down people’s throats. This role is a departure from my usual bumbling-man-who-turns-mature roles.
Tell us about that gold suit you wore for the disco song?
It was a sauna suit and it was my idea. I just thought that a gold, outlandish suit would go perfectly with my character. I was inspired by my father’s Om Shanti Om song in which he wore a silver suit at a disco.
Recently your personal space was invaded when pictures of you vacationing in Spain with Katrina Kaif hit the tabloids. How do you look back on that episode?
There are so many opinions and judgments about me. I feel as if my life is turning into some reality show that you watch on TV. So now I am trying to protect my personal space as much as I can. When you are a star, it’s natural that you are written about but I want to maintain a bit of dignity and sanctity of my personal space.
Is marriage on the cards?
It’s not planned right now. My time is taken up by the work I am doing. But I believe in the institution of marriage and having a family. It’s a natural process but marriage shouldn’t be dictated by what age you have reached. When it happens, it should happen naturally.
