Ranbir Kapoor reflects on late father Rishi Kapoor and recurring cinematic themes of father-son conflict

Actor Ranbir Kapoor has opened up about the impact of his father Rishi Kapoor's death, admitting that the loss took time to fully sink in. Speaking with ITV News while promoting his upcoming film Ramayana, Ranbir shared that he was 40 years old when his father passed away in 2020. He noted that the magnitude of the absence did not hit him immediately, but certain memories and past conversations gradually began to make sense over time.

Career Reflections

Ranbir admitted he took his father's guidance for granted after entering the film industry, missing that support terribly now. He pointed out a recurring theme in his filmography involving father-son conflict, suggesting he may subconsciously seek his late father's approval or a pat on the back through his project choices. He recalled how Rishi was often critical of his work, failing to understand his choices in films like Tamasha, Wake Up Sid, Barfi, and Rocket Singh. Rishi would question the audience and invoke a line attributed to Prithviraj Kapoor about art in the service of the nation.

Past Appearances

During an appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati 18 alongside co-stars Sai Pallavi and Ravie Dubey, Ranbir discussed his father's critical approach to his characters. He previously spoke about struggling to process the grief on Unstoppable with NBK in 2023 while promoting Animal, stating that sons are taught to be strong and often do not express such loss. He also described the distance in his childhood relationship with Rishi, mirroring the equation Rishi shared with his own father, and called Indian father-son chemistry somewhat dicey. Rishi Kapoor died on April 30, 2020, at age 67 after battling leukaemia.

Context

Loss of a parent often brings lasting personal and professional shifts, particularly in families with multi-generational legacies in the film industry. Ranbir Kapoor stars as Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming film Ramayana, which also features Sai Pallavi, Yash, Sunny Deol, and Ravie Dubey, and is slated for release on November 5, 2026.