Like many fathers and sons, Ranbir Kapoor and his late father, the legendary Rishi Kapoor, shared a relationship filled with both affection and friction. Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai, who shared a close bond with Rishi, recently opened up about the emotional dynamics between the two Kapoors. According to him, their disagreements often stemmed from contrasting visions about Ranbir’s career path and personal approach to cinema.
Ghai observed that Rishi and Ranbir were fundamentally different in temperament and outlook. The generational gap between them was evident—while Rishi believed deeply in traditional Hindi cinema, Ranbir leaned towards a more global style of storytelling, inspired by his exposure to world cinema. This difference in perspective often became the root of their arguments. Yet, beneath the clashes lay deep love and mutual admiration. Rishi, despite his stern exterior, was a deeply caring father who wanted his son to achieve greatness, though always within the framework of Indian cinema’s cultural roots.
"He often used to scold Ranbir, and then Ranbir would never say anything to Rishi but later complain to Neetu about letting him take his decisions freely. So they were two different personalities altogether," he said.
After Ranbir’s return from New York, where he had studied filmmaking, the differences between father and son became more pronounced. Ghai recalled how Rishi would often express frustration over Ranbir’s choices, believing his son was too influenced by Western ideas. Ranbir, on the other hand, chose to stay silent in front of his father, later confiding in his mother, Neetu Kapoor, about wanting more freedom to make his own creative decisions. Their relationship, though sometimes turbulent, was built on a foundation of mutual respect and unspoken understanding.
Subhash Ghai’s Reflections on Ranbir’s Rise
Looking back today, Subhash Ghai expressed both pride and nostalgia while discussing Ranbir’s incredible journey. He noted that Ranbir had evolved into one of the most respected and versatile stars of his generation. Through a series of bold choices — some risky, others immensely successful — Ranbir had carved a place for himself as a true performer rather than just a celebrity. Ghai regretted that Rishi was not alive to witness his son’s rise to superstardom, adding that he often wanted to tell Rishi to let Ranbir follow his instincts. Like most fathers, Rishi’s concerns came from a place of love and hope that his son would surpass his own achievements.
Currently, Ranbir Kapoor continues to dominate Bollywood. After the massive success of Animal, he is busy filming Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War. He also has Ramayan: Part 1 lined up for release next year, with the sequel already in the works. Reports suggest he may also headline the next Dhoom film, further cementing his place as one of Indian cinema’s brightest stars.
Ghai observed that Rishi and Ranbir were fundamentally different in temperament and outlook. The generational gap between them was evident—while Rishi believed deeply in traditional Hindi cinema, Ranbir leaned towards a more global style of storytelling, inspired by his exposure to world cinema. This difference in perspective often became the root of their arguments. Yet, beneath the clashes lay deep love and mutual admiration. Rishi, despite his stern exterior, was a deeply caring father who wanted his son to achieve greatness, though always within the framework of Indian cinema’s cultural roots.
"He often used to scold Ranbir, and then Ranbir would never say anything to Rishi but later complain to Neetu about letting him take his decisions freely. So they were two different personalities altogether," he said.
After Ranbir’s return from New York, where he had studied filmmaking, the differences between father and son became more pronounced. Ghai recalled how Rishi would often express frustration over Ranbir’s choices, believing his son was too influenced by Western ideas. Ranbir, on the other hand, chose to stay silent in front of his father, later confiding in his mother, Neetu Kapoor, about wanting more freedom to make his own creative decisions. Their relationship, though sometimes turbulent, was built on a foundation of mutual respect and unspoken understanding.
Subhash Ghai’s Reflections on Ranbir’s Rise
Looking back today, Subhash Ghai expressed both pride and nostalgia while discussing Ranbir’s incredible journey. He noted that Ranbir had evolved into one of the most respected and versatile stars of his generation. Through a series of bold choices — some risky, others immensely successful — Ranbir had carved a place for himself as a true performer rather than just a celebrity. Ghai regretted that Rishi was not alive to witness his son’s rise to superstardom, adding that he often wanted to tell Rishi to let Ranbir follow his instincts. Like most fathers, Rishi’s concerns came from a place of love and hope that his son would surpass his own achievements.
Currently, Ranbir Kapoor continues to dominate Bollywood. After the massive success of Animal, he is busy filming Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War. He also has Ramayan: Part 1 lined up for release next year, with the sequel already in the works. Reports suggest he may also headline the next Dhoom film, further cementing his place as one of Indian cinema’s brightest stars.
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