BizAsia interviews Ranbir Kapoor about ‘Barfi!’
Whether it be his debut in the towel scene in ��Saawariya�۪ (2007) or��a��tribute to his father, Rishi Kapoor, in the title track of�ʉ�Bachna Ae Haseeno�۪ (2008), Ranbir Kapoor is known to have his finger on the pulse of Bollywood. His real life scandals aside, Kapoor has proven himself to be the bright spark��of the Kapoor generation in Bollywood and has worked hard to make a niche for himself in the industry. He has worked his way up the industry, starting out alongside fashionista and fellow��debutante Sonam Kapoor as an assistant director for ��Black�۪ (2005) and now holds his own in his upcoming film ��Barfi!�۪. BizAsia was given the fabulous opportunity to interview the dashing actor ahead of the release of ��Barfi!�۪ and work out just��why and how��he has charmed the female population of the world.
BizAsia in conversation with Ranbir Kapoor" width="400" height="300" />How does it feel to be back in London?
It feels great! London is like a second home to everybody from Mumbai as the people from there come here so often. It�۪s great to start the promotions of ‘Barfi!’, it is the first day I have started to promote this film. London is a big market for Indian cinema, a lot of people give a lot of love and support to Hindi films and I hope that with ‘Barfi!’ releasing on 14th September, we are able to reciprocate that love in the form of good entertainment with good family viewing.
Tell��us a bit about your character in ‘Barfi!’
I play��Murphy��in ‘Barfi!’. He�۪s this carefree, happy-go-lucky, good-for-nothing character who cannot hear or speak. That�۪s a disability that you will not be too aware of in the movie as this is trait that we have tried to make really relatable to the audience and entertaining. He�۪s a hearty guy who loves to take people’s problems away. It�۪s his love story with Ileana�۪s character Shruti and the day that it ends, his encounter with Priyanka Chopra�۪s character begins. How they collide together is shown in a very endearing and happy way.
How did you prepare to play such��a character?
There wasn�۪t much preparation. People think that I must have done a lot of character work for it because I play a deaf and mute. I had to express a lot through physical antics and comedy, express it through my body and through my eyes. It was fun because everything was in the same space as Charlie Chaplin or Mr Bean and that was really fun for me. The director, Anurag Basu, is really funny, a good person and I really wanted to do it for him. He had a good story to tell to the audience with this character. I hope that I have been able to pull it off.
Both the actresses in the film, Priyanka Chopra and Ileana D�۪Cruz, come from very different film backgrounds. What was it like working with them?
It�۪s my second film with Priyanka. It was a bit odd for me to see her in this avtaar, I have always seen her as this glamorous, cool and hot looking actress. Seeing her as Jhilmil was initially a bit awkward to connect with but as days went by, to see her surrender herself to this part was amazing for me to see as an actor and as a friend. It made my life easier and it made the world of ‘Barfi!’, she added so much to it that I felt connected to the part myself. I am grateful to her for doing that.
For Ileana, it is her first Hindi film and coming from the films she has done, she has done an amazing job. The amount of dignity, beauty and poise that she has added to the character Shruti is really amazing because it�۪s her first Hindi film and there are certain trappings that you have as an actor with the songs and the dances and looking a certain way. It was a different kind of film for her to do, but again seeing her surrender to the part, kudos to her.
How do you think ‘Barfi!’ will be received by the audiences?
I really don�۪t know. It is not a film that I can predict the fate of but it is a film that I am really proud of. I have had an amazing time working on it and the character is really close to me. Coming from my last film, ��Rockstar�۪, which was a bit of a dark experience for me, this was a sunshine kind of film. It got me out of the dark phase and has made me happy. I hope this translates to the audience too.
Why do you think a British audience should go to see ‘Barfi!’?
It is a good and engaging story which is well told. It is a bittersweet love story and it will bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eyes. That�۪s what matters. If the story is good, it doesn�۪t matter whether the characters are physically handicapped or not, an engaging story is what matters.
This is the 100th year of Bollywood cinema and your ancestors have made a great contribution to the industry. How does it feel for you to be a part of it?
It feels great. My family have been contributing for 80 years out of those 100 so it feels wonderful that I can make a contribution in my own small way. Hopefully with ‘Barfi!’ releasing, I can add to that and I hope it makes my family�۪s contribution proud.
Looking to the future, what other projects should we be looking forward to seeing you in?
My next film is called ��Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani�۪; it stars Deepika Padukone and myself. It�۪s a love story which will be releasing March next year.
It is clear to see that Kapoor has worked hard on ��Barfi!�۪ and it truly��looks like��film to remember. His passion for the character is clear for us to see and we are keen to see him in this role. ��Barfi!�۪ releases on the 14th September and��BizAsia wish the team of ��Barfi!�۪ the best of luck.
Check out the pictures below of BizAsia‘s interview with Kapoor.
BizAsia in conversation with Ranbir Kapoor" width="400" height="300" />
BizAsia in conversation with Ranbir Kapoor" width="400" height="300" />
BizAsia in conversation with Ranbir Kapoor" width="400" height="300" />
BizAsia in conversation with Ranbir Kapoor" width="400" height="300" />
BizAsia in conversation with Ranbir Kapoor" width="400" height="300" />
BizAsia in conversation with Ranbir Kapoor" width="400" height="300" />
