On Sunday, Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor shared his thoughts on remakes and his admiration for his grandfather, the legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor. Speaking at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), where the 100th birth anniversary of Raj Kapoor was being celebrated, Ranbir discussed his views on remakes and which of Raj Kapoor's films he would consider revisiting. When asked about remaking one of his grandfather’s films, Ranbir said, "I don’t believe in remakes, I believe a film is made to the best of its capabilities and you should not touch it, especially Raj Kapoor’s films. But I would love to have a take on 'Shree 420', like I said, it’s my favourite film."
Ranbir Kapoor on remakes of Raj Kapoor films
Ranbir also mentioned 'Sangam' (1964) as another Raj Kapoor classic he would be interested in remaking. However, he revealed that 'Jaagte Raho' (1956), directed by Amit Maitra and Sombhu Mitra, also left a significant impact on him as an actor.
During the conversation, Ranbir, who studied filmmaking at the School of Visual Arts in New York, spoke about his burning desire to eventually direct a film. He said, “My grandfather directed, acted, produced, wrote, and edited a film called Aag at the age of 24. I’m 42 today and I still don’t have the courage to direct a film.” Despite his hesitation, Ranbir expressed his belief that a director should only take on a film when they have a story to tell: "A director should make a movie only if he has a story to tell, not just for the sake of making a movie."
Reflecting on his experiences as an actor, Ranbir acknowledged the challenges of acting but emphasized that it is still easier than directing. “Acting is tough too, but it’s much easier than directing a movie,” he shared. "I realized that the opportunities for being an actor came easily. I come from a privileged setting, and I didn’t want to take that for granted."
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani remake
When asked which of his own films he would have liked Raj Kapoor to direct, Ranbir chose 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' (2013), saying, "I would have loved to have Raj Kapoor direct Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani."
As the conversation turned to legacy, Ranbir discussed his approach to carrying forward the Kapoor family's cinematic heritage. He said, "If you really want to take any kind of legacy forward, you have to do it in a very individualistic approach… It’s the way you say it, it’s your perception of life." He emphasized the importance of individuality in making a mark in the industry, adding, “And then you want to just flow into that story. So, [you could be] heavily influenced, but you have to be individualistic to make a mark in any way."
Ranbir also expressed his admiration for Raj Kapoor, stating, "I am a bigger fan of Raj Kapoor the director than the actor."