Ranbir Kapoor on childhood trauma from parents' Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor's 'turbulent relationship', says "I was always scared and on the edge..."

Ranbir talks about his parents and his childhood

Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor recently opened up about his childhood and the emotional impact of his famous parents’ Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor's stormy relationship.

In a recent interview on Nikhil Kamath's YouTube channel ‘People by WTF,’ Ranbir spoke about the anxiety he felt growing up amid frequent arguments between his late father, Rishi Kapoor, and his mother, Neetu Singh.

Ranbir revealed, “Anybody who speaks in a louder tone, it disturbs me, since childhood. My parents went through a lot of fights. We lived in a bungalow, so I have spent most of my childhood on the staircases, hearing them fight. I was always scared and on the edge.”

He openly continued, “I think they were both going through a rough patch. My sister wasn’t around, so I kind of felt responsible. My mother used to talk about her feelings to me. But, my father wasn’t that expressive. I never understood or heard his point of view.”

The couple’s relationship has been well-documented since they married in January 1980, becoming one of Bollywood’s most iconic pairs.

They have two children: Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, who is married to Bharat Sahni, and Ranbir Kapoor, who married his Brahmastra co-star, Alia Bhatt, in April 2022. The couple welcomed their daughter, Raha Kapoor, in November 2022.

Ranbir reflected on how his parents' turbulent relationship shaped his perspective on marriage.

He expressed deep gratitude for Alia's calming presence and her ability to soothe his insecurities, particularly in relation to their daughter, Raha,

"She used to speak in a very loud tone. I think my father’s (Rishi Kapoor) tone, growing up, always rattled me. So, she really made efforts to change that. And that’s not easy when you’ve lived 30 years of your life speaking in a certain way. She’s someone who instinctively reacts to say, if Raha falls down. There’s a reaction that throws me off. She makes certain things to put me at ease. I hope I could say there’s something I did to put her at ease, but I don’t think I’ve done it yet," he said.

His latest film, Animal directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, has been commercially successful but has faced some criticism for its depiction of toxic masculinity and violence.

Looking ahead, Ranbir will star in Nitesh Tiwari’s highly anticipated adaptation of the Ramayana.