Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor recently shared a delightful piece of family history, taking fans back to the golden era of Hindi cinema. Speaking at Subhash Ghai’s annual ‘Celebrate Cinema’ festival at Whistling Woods International, Ranbir recalled how his grandfather, the legendary Raj Kapoor, once convinced actress Vyjayanthimala to join his 1964 classic ‘Sangam’, with nothing more than a clever telegram.
The actor narrated the incident with fondness and humour. “My grandfather Raj Kapoor wanted Vyjayanthimala to play the role of Radha in ‘Sangam’. She wasn’t ready to do the film at first. Those days, there were no phones, only telegrams,” Ranbir said, smiling. “Out of frustration, my grandfather sent her a telegram that said, ‘Bol Radha Bol, Sangam Hoga Ki Nahi?’ She replied, ‘Hoga, Hoga, Hoga.’ And that exchange became the inspiration for the famous song ‘‘Bol Radha Bol Sangam Hoga Ki Nahi.’”
During the session, moderated by filmmaker Subhash Ghai and featuring director Rahul Rawail, Ranbir also spoke candidly about his acting journey and what it means to be part of the Kapoor family, often called the “first family” of Bollywood.
“I’m aware that I come from a film family, and I won’t shy away from admitting that I had it easier than most. I’m a product of nepotism,” he said. “But I’ve always felt the responsibility to prove myself. If I don’t bring my own individuality to my work, I won’t survive in this industry.”
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Ranbir also opened up about his early training and how working with great filmmakers shaped his craft. “I’ve been learning acting since I was a kid,” he recalled. “After studying at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York, I assisted Sanjay Leela Bhansali on ‘Black’ (2005). Watching him direct Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerji was like being in a masterclass every day. That’s when I truly understood what it takes to be a professional actor.”
Talking about his approach to acting, the ‘Animal’ star said there’s no single formula. “The method keeps evolving. What I learnt at film school was just a foundation. Each director has a different vision, and as an actor, you have to adapt to it. There is no fixed ‘method.’ You have to serve the story and the director’s idea.”
Ranbir also mentioned that he continues to draw inspiration from cinema legends like Guru Dutt and his own grandfather Raj Kapoor. “Their storytelling, their vision, and their emotional honesty still influence all of us. They were the true dreamers,” he said.
As for what’s next, Ranbir Kapoor is gearing up to play Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s much-awaited two-part epic ‘Ramayana’, one of the most ambitious projects currently in the making. He also made a brief appearance recently in Netflix’s ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’.