Veteran actor-writer Piyush Mishra has spoken of Ranbir Kapoor and given very candid insight into the actor's persona behind the camera, in a recent interview with The Lallantop. Mishra named Ranbir as “light”, “free”, who is refreshingly unaffected by the massive Kapoor cinematic legacy he belongs to.
‘Ranbir doesn't carry even 1% of his legacy’
Mishra, who has worked with Ranbir on Rockstar and later on Tamasha, recalls that he is always struck by the contrast between the actor's on-camera intensity and his off-camera ease. According to him, Ranbir is deeply focused while shooting, but instantly becomes "light" and "free" the moment the director calls cut.
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This carefree quality, Mishra said, sets Ranbir apart from many industry actors who carry the pressure of their lineage. " Arre, don’t even ask - that guy is something else," he laughed, adding, “Itna nanga besharam aadmi maine aaj tak nahi dekha,” noting that despite coming from a long line of legendary performers-from Prithviraj Kapoor to Rishi Kapoor-Ranbir does not let that history weigh him down.
He also said, “He comes from such a long, long legacy - his father, his grandfather, his great-grandfather, all the way back to Prithviraj Kapoor. But none of that burdens him. Not even 1%.”
Remembering Irrfan: ‘He left too soon’
In the same interaction, Mishra also recalled memories of working with Irrfan in Haasil. He admitted that the demise of the critically acclaimed actor still hurts. “He left too soon, yaar. It hurts a lot… he was such a great actor,” he said.
Although Mishra and Irrfan were not close on a personal level, they shared a deep appreciation of each other’s work. “To be honest, he wasn’t that close a friend of mine, not the way he was with Tigmanshu Dhulia or Vishal Bhardwaj. We told each other, ‘You did good work.’ That’s where a bond formed,” he said.
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Calling Irrfan “very young” at the time of his passing, Mishra expressed hope for bright futures for the late actor’s sons. On 29 April 2020, Irrfan Khan passed away in Mumbai. A colon infection, as a complication of his neuroendocrine tumour diagnosed in 2018, was the cause of his death.
What’s next for Ranbir Kapoor?
Next, Ranbir Kapoor will be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War alongside Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. The shooting of the film is in process.
