Imran Khan opens up on equation With Ranbir Kapoor, addresses rivalry rumours: "Scope of any relationship was always limited"

Over the years, Ranbir went on to become one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, whereas Imran gradually stepped away from acting after 2015, choosing to stay away from the spotlight for several years.

• Imran Khan praised Ranbir Kapoor and denied any rivalry between them
• Imran clarified limited interactions, blaming media for shaping public perception.
• Imran returned to films with a cameo in Happy Patel after a long break

Did our AI summary help?

Imran Khan, who was recently seen in Happy Patel, opened up about his equation with Ranbir Kapoor and had nothing but praise for the Animal actor and his body of work. Reflecting on their journeys, Imran also addressed long-standing rumours about a supposed rivalry between the two actors.

Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan entered Bollywood around the same time. While Ranbir made his debut with Saawariya in 2007, Imran began his acting career a year later with Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na in 2008. Over the years, Ranbir went on to become one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, whereas Imran gradually stepped away from acting after 2015, choosing to stay away from the spotlight for several years.

In an interview with News18, Imran clarified that he never shared a close personal bond with Ranbir and that their interactions were limited. Addressing reports of alleged friction and competition between them, he explained, “We only got to meet when we both were young actors, who had newly got into the business. The thing is, there’s a certain amount of personal interactions that happen and much more of external narrative building that you aren’t really involved in or have a hand in."

He further elaborated on how media narratives may have played a role in shaping public perception. “You hear something, you read something. Because of the way that played out even within the media narratives, it perhaps hindered the ability of developing any kind of a truthful relationship. The fact is that Ranbir and I would really get to interact socially, within an industry context. So, the scope of any relationship was always limited," he said.

Imran also mentioned that since both actors lived in Bandra, they shared common friends, but explained why male actors don’t often end up spending much time together. “You work with actresses. You meet six-seven different actresses and you spend six-eight months making films with them. So, you get to know them a little bit," he added.

Also read: Happy Patel: Khatarnaak Jasoos Movie Review: Vir Das turns absurdity into strength in a bold, unruly comedy

Talking further about the idea of competition and complimenting Ranbir’s work, including his performance in Animal, Imran noted, “It’s less common for actors to do films together. As a factor of that, you tend to have less of an opportunity to get to know actors within the same age bracket." When asked to comment on Ranbir’s growth as an actor, whom he was once seen as a contemporary and competitor, Imran said, “In the last couple of years, I’ve fairly been disconnected from Indian cinema. I haven’t watched Animal… It’s hard to talk about his growth in the last few years. But while I was actively working, I watched all of his films."

Imran Khan was recently seen in a cameo appearance in Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, directed by Vir Das and produced by Aamir Khan’s production banner. The appearance marked his return to films after a long break, as the actor had stayed away from the industry since 2016.