Ranbir Kapoor Is Ready for His Director’s Cut?
From towel drop to director’s chair, Ranbir has a string of standout roles behind him, and massive films on the horizon
“I am dying to direct a movie,” Ranbir Kapoor revealed casually on a recent livestream. “I’ve actually started a writers’ room. I’m trying to inspire myself with two ideas I have… it’s definitely on my to-do list in the next couple of years.”
At 41, the actor who’s spent nearly two decades dodging stardom’s clichés is now preparing to step behind the camera, hinting at a reinvention that feels both inevitable and intriguing. The man who once seemed ambivalent about celebrity is now slowly building his own cinematic universe and possibly, his own voice as a filmmaker.
With a writers’ room in motion and two ideas on the table, Ranbir Kapoor who co-founded ARKS, is preparing to direct his first film- this is all while he lines up mythological epics and multi-star sagas.
And the timing couldn’t be more perfect. He’s already booked for Bhansali’s Love & War, opposite his wife Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. He’ll also be stepping into the most sacred shoes in Indian mythology, playing Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, slated for a 2026 release. Add to that Animal Park in the pipeline, a sequel to his most commercially successful (and controversial) film yet and Kapoor’s schedule reads more like a studio slate than an actor’s résumé.
But long before all this talk of mythological epics and directorial dreams, there was the boy in the towel.
Ranbir Kapoor’s debut in Saawariya — dancing uninhibited around a moonlit bathroom, clothed in nothing but a dangerously low-hanging towel is still one of Bollywood’s most audacious debut scenes. It was bold, and simply unforgettable. And, in hindsight, entirely fitting.
From day one, Kapoor has never quite played by the rules, neither safely bankable nor overtly rebellious, always somewhere in between.
Since then, he’s quietly become one of the most shapeshifting performers of his generation. Whether it’s the emotionally fractured Ved in Tamasha, the carefree Bunny in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, or the controversial yet compelling turn as Sanjay Dutt in Sanju, Kapoor has made a career out of finding complexity in roles that could’ve easily been one-note. He’s not loud about it.
He rarely gives interviews, almost never over-explains his choices. But his filmography speaks volumes. Of course, the ride hasn’t always been smooth. Shamshera underwhelmed. Rocket Singh remains under-appreciated. Even Brahmāstra, for all its spectacle, didn’t quite hit the cultural chord it was aiming for. But in each misfire, Kapoor found something else ; a willingness to experiment, to risk, to adapt.
And now, to direct.
If there’s one thing consistent about Kapoor’s arc, it’s a slow-burning kind of ambition. While we await the release of the 4 most talked about cinematic projects starring a Kapoor, here are some of Ranbir Kapoor’s best performances (in no particular order) that show the evolution of an actor who refuses to be boxed in:
Tamasha (2015)
As Ved, Ranbir portrays a man battling between societal expectations and his true self. A layered, introspective performance that didn’t get its due upon release but is now hailed as one of his finest.
Rockstar (2011)
Possibly the performance that redefined him. As the passionate and self-destructive Jordan, Ranbir gave a searing portrayal of love, loss, and fame in Imtiaz Ali's film Rockstar. It remains a milestone in his career and fans still can't get over the music album produced by A.R Rahman.
Barfi! (2012)
Playing a deaf-mute character, Ranbir in Barfi alongside Priyanka Chopra and Ileana D'Cruz brought charm and pathos to the screen without uttering a single word. It was a role that could have easily turned gimmicky, but he infused it with heart and soul.
Sanju (2018)
Transforming into Sanjay Dutt in Raju Hirani's Sanju across decades was no easy task. While the film itself was divisive, Ranbir’s performance was unanimously praised for its precision and conviction and his transformation praised by father Rishi Kapoor.
Wake Up Sid (2009)
Ayaan Mukherjee's coming-of-age tale that struck a chord with millennials. Ranbir’s portrayal of a privileged yet aimless young man finding purpose felt authentic and grounded.
Animal (2023)
A more recent addition, Ranbir’s raw and intense portrayal in this psychological action-drama polarized audiences but reaffirmed his willingness to embrace darkness and complexity.