I'm not scared of ensemble cast - Ranbir Kapoor

If you see the Hairat song from his latest film Anjaana Anjaani, you will start believing that Ranbir Kapoor the actor is indeed an escapist. But in reality, things are slightly different. Filming his next titled Rockstar, India's number one actor calls me from Prague for an extended chat to discuss his forthcoming Anjaana Anjaani, his successes, his failures, his hate mails, his right and wrong decisions and his resolution to work in an ensemble film. But all this, a bit later. The fact is, Ranbir has reached that point, both professionally and personally, where 'escape' is necessary. On the domestic front, he has been dogged all year by tabloid coverage linking him to many actresses. Professionally, with his stunning performances in all his earlier films, Ranbir is for once facing the intense heat and exposure that go with being a movie star. And that my friends, don't come across as strange, does it? This special correspondent gets you some strange facts about Ranbir Kapoor in this Anjaana Anjaani special.

"Rocket Singh failed but I believed in it the most"
There was a point when Rocket Singh failed and it was a movie I truly believed in. I sat down and thought - Is this the kind of cinema that people see? Was something wrong with the film? Is this what they like? But honestly, I don't think I can change the way I think and approach movies. Till the time I'm acting I want to choose movies the way I see it and the way I think is right. I don't see my career changing if I start catering to the audience or their sensibilities. I will always go with my heart. Films work and they don't work. That's the nature of this industry. And most importantly, never take success to your head.

"Many times I've said no to films, not directors"
Honestly, there is no partiality because I have worked with Shimit Amin or how creatively talented he is. I have not done movies of really big directors who've offered me bad scripts. I am not saying that the director is bad, it's the story which doesn't appeal to me or something is wrong with the characterization. If Shimit Amin or Siddharth Anand or Prakash Jha or Rajkumar Santoshi, anyone who I've worked with, if they offer me a movie it'll be purely on the next project we will be working on and not because I've worked with them before.

"If I have a bad film releasing, all this praise and good work goes away"
If people think I am the Leonardo DiCaprio of Indian films, then be it. I can't change the way people think of me. It's a little too over I think but they can't get away without comparisons. When people praise you and you get certain titles, I try and stay away from it and not take it too seriously only for my betterment. If I have a bad film releasing, all this praise and good words will go away. It all boils down to getting up early in the morning, going to work and working hard on the sets.

"Back then, producers used to put their house on rent and sell their wives jewellery"
I've come across very few producers in this industry, who are very involved in the film because they love the movie they make. There are producers who don't care about their movie because they might have two big films releasing before that particular film, which are multi star cast or a big dhamaka film. I've been lucky enough to work with Mr. Ramesh Taurani, Sajid Nadiadwala, Karan Johar who really love their movies. They get depressed if their film doesn't do well. But that's what a producer is. He has to depend on that film. That's his life. People used to put their houses on rent, sell their wives jewellery to make a film back then and a few of them now, they have the fire to back their film.

"Yes, I have had fans who have not liked my work and have told me. I get upset about it"
Yes, I have received hate mails and letters from fans who haven't liked my performance because I don't really surround myself with 'yes men'. I have good normal people in my life to tell me where I am going wrong or where I am going right. That's when an artist prospers. Everyone has a right to give their own judgement or opinion. It's really important to have the balance of what's right and what's wrong. If somebody doesn't like my performance, I do get upset about it. I do wonder why that person didn't like it. I too have not liked some performances but that doesn't mean I am wrong. What's good is the fact that they take the effort to write to me what they didn't like because Ranbir Kapoor matters to them.

"Each film makes me a better actor"
After every film, as much as you put in, you take so much from it. It changes the way you talk, the way you walk and it changes your thought process. Somethings that a producer or a director tells you or a writer tells you stay with you for life. That's another beautiful process of acting, you just have to take it and love what you do.

"As long as the script is good, I'm cool in doing an ensemble film"
I did Raajneeti which was the biggest ensemble film. I have nothing about ensemble films. Like I said, it's about the character and the script offered to me. When Raajneeti was offered to me, I really didn't know who else was cast in the film. I just said 'yes' after Prakash narrated me the script. An ensemble cast doesn't scare me. I have that much of faith in me. I am talented and I will give it my best shot like I do in my solo roles. As long as the script is good, I'm cool in doing an ensemble film.