Late actor Rishi Kapoor once shared anecdotes about his relationship with his son, actor Ranbir Kapoor, in an interview with Anupam Kher on The Anupam Kher Show. He revealed that, unlike some parents in the film industry who treat their children as friends, he deliberately maintained a more traditional, hierarchical bond with Ranbir.
"Mai janta hu ki film industry me aise bohot se parents hai jo apne baccho ko dost jaise mante hai, mera rishta mere baap ke sath kabhi aisa nahi tha aur maine jaanbujh kar ye rishta maine apne bete se bhi nai rakha (I know that many parents in the film industry consider their children friends, but I never had that kind of relationship with my father, and I consciously chose not to have it with my son either)," Rishi said.
He further explained, "Ho sakta hai ki humare bich me ek sheeshe ki deewar hai, hum dekh sakte hai lekin hum ek dusre ko mehsoos nai kar sakte hai, ho sakta hai. Hum dekh sakte hai, lekin kyuki maine ye chahte huye ki aap mujhe wo position zarur de ki mai aapka buzurg hu, mai aapka baap hu, mai aapka dost nahi hu (It may be that there’s a glass wall between us. We can see each other, but we cannot truly feel each other. I wanted to ensure that Ranbir saw me as an elder, as a father—not as a friend.)" He made it clear that he preferred Ranbir to respect him as a father figure, rather than having a casual, friendly relationship.
Rishi Kapoor also spoke about the generational impact of this dynamic, saying that he observed the same with his father and grandfather. "Because maine shayad mere dada ke sath mere baap ko dekha tha, mere baap ne mere sath kiya tha aur I wanted it with Ranbir aur jab aapne pucha apne Ranbir ko kya diya, maine ye diya hai Ranbir ko ki tum apne bado ki izzat karo aur baki tum zindagi me jo chahte ho karo lekin ye deewar jo hai jo humne khadi ki hai wo mai chahta hu ki aise hi rahe. (I saw how my father treated his father, and my father treated me the same way. I wanted that with Ranbir too. When asked what I’ve given him, I’ve given him the lesson to respect his elders. Beyond that, he can live his life as he pleases, but I want this wall between us to remain.)"
In a recent podcast with YouTuber Nikhil Kamath on People with WTF, Ranbir Kapoor reflected on his relationship with his late father as well, who passed away four years ago. The Animal star candidly discussed their complex and distant bond, acknowledging Rishi’s short temper but good heart.
Ranbir described himself as a respectful and obedient son, often complying without objection. At an event in Hyderabad last year, Ranbir opened up about their lack of closeness, attributing it to Rishi’s frequent travels. He expressed regret over not having spent more time with his father, saying that while there was love between them, they were never particularly close.
On The Kapil Sharma Show, Ranbir humorously called his father the “original troll” before the social media age, recalling how Rishi would prank-call his aunt after a few drinks, displaying his playful side.
Reflecting on a more emotional memory, Ranbir recalled a time in New York during Rishi’s treatment, when his father broke down in tears—a rare moment of vulnerability. "He had never shown that kind of weakness to me. It was so awkward because I didn’t know whether to hug him or hold him. I realized the distance between us," Ranbir said. He expressed guilt over not being able to close that emotional gap, saying, "I didn’t have the grace to let go of that distance and just give him love."
Ranbir admitted that his upbringing made it difficult for him to express weakness, especially with the responsibilities he carried for his family. "I don't know what it was, but I just didn’t show it," he added.
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On the work front, Ranbir is set to appear in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, co-starring Sai Pallavi.
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