Mumbai: Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor on Thursday openly acknowledged being a “product of nepotism,” stating that while he benefited from being born into the illustrious Kapoor family, success in the film industry required individual effort and hard work.

On Nepotism and Legacy

Speaking at the ‘Celebrate Cinema 2025’ festival hosted at Whistling Woods International, Ranbir said, “I’m a product of nepotism and I got it very easy in my life but I always had to work hard because I realised that I come from a family like this and if I don’t have an individualistic approach and if I don’t make a name for myself, I’ll not succeed in the film industry.” He emphasised that legacy alone does not guarantee longevity, adding, “You guys celebrate a lot of success of my family, but there are a lot of failures also, and as much as you learn from the success, you learn from the failure also.”

Growing Up in a Film Dynasty

The 43-year-old actor, son of Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor and grandson of Raj Kapoor, recalled his childhood, saying, “For me, it was like any other normal family, I didn’t know any better.” He described a home filled with creativity, where music directors, lyricists, and singers frequently gathered to compose songs. “There used to be a lot of arguments, but not of the domestic kind. They would debate over a scene or the correct lyrics of a song,” he shared.

On the Art of Filmmaking

Ranbir stressed that filmmaking is a collaborative process, not a one-person show. “Filmmaking is not dictatorship, it’s a marriage of so many people and artists coming together, and believing in something, and believing in inspiring people,” he said, quoting his great-grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor: “Kala desh ki seva mein. So whatever you can do, do it to inspire the next generation... If you can do that, then there’s nothing greater than that.”

Acting Philosophy and Mentorship

Reflecting on his journey, Ranbir said his approach to acting varies with each film and director. He recounted his time as an assistant director on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black (2005), where he observed Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerji’s performances. “I was not trying to ape them, but I would tell myself, ‘How would I approach the scene?’,” he said. He advised young actors to remain malleable, noting, “Every filmmaker has a different way of telling a story and filmmaking is a director's medium.”

Future Aspirations

Ranbir expressed a desire to mentor the next generation, saying, “My dream is that at some point I can become an acting coach, give acting tips, and share my experiences.” He added that interacting with young talent energises him, especially as he enters a phase where he feels creatively saturated. He will next be seen in Bhansali’s Love and War and Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana.

The event, titled ‘Tribute to legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt,’ concluded with filmmaker Subhash Ghai announcing two scholarships in the names of Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt for students at Whistling Woods International.

With inputs from PTI