Ranbir Kapoor on Learning from Saawariya's Failure and Following His Passion

Ranbir Kapoor, who had a big hit with “Animal” last year, recently talked about his career and how his debut movie “Saawariya” was a box office flop. Surprisingly, Ranbir is happy it didn’t do well because it taught him not to take success or failure too seriously. It humbled him and prepared him for the ups and downs of his profession.

Working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Ranbir shared how he got his start in the film industry. After finishing his studies abroad, he returned to India and was eager to work with the famous director Sanjay Leela Bhansali (SLB). He said, “When I came back, every director or producer in the industry wanted to launch me. But, I was a big fan of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. I thought, ‘Maybe he doesn’t know me’. So, I made a resume, and sat outside his office.”

He continued, “I waited, he was not there, but he saw my resume, and understood who I was. The first day when he met me, he said, ‘I want to make a film with you.'”

Learning the Ropes

Ranbir started working as one of Bhansali’s assistants, doing long 13-14-hour shifts every day. He described Bhansali as a tough boss who was very short-tempered. Despite the hard work, Ranbir felt that this experience made him stronger.

The Release of Saawariya

When “Saawariya” was released in 2007, it didn’t do well at the box office. The movie, which also marked the debut of actress Sonam Kapoor, clashed with the hit film “Om Shanti Om,” starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. Ranbir now looks back and feels grateful for the failure, saying it prepared him for the future.

Thoughts on Politics

Ranbir also talked about the idea of joining politics. He said, “No, I like the world of art, creation, and being an artiste. I would like to die creating things and directing movies. I know I’m not cut out to be a producer. I produced one film, ‘Jagga Jasoos,’ which was a disaster at the box office. I realized it’s a skill set which I don’t have.”

He also mentioned that he’s not a “people person,” which is important in politics. When asked if being a people person is necessary in politics, Ranbir responded, “So yeah, I’m not a people person.”

Ranbir’s honest reflections show how even failures can be valuable lessons, and how following one’s passion is key to finding true fulfillment.