A still from Ranbir’s upcoming film Barfi!

He is the most searched name on the Internet amongst all the Bollywood men today and for good reasons. He has also been tagged as a Casanova, what with his alleged link-ups with so many B-town hotties.

“I’m hitting 30 this month, so I want to get more responsible and serious in my work. I enjoy acting and I am very passionate about my work. I’ve signed Yeh Jawaani hai Deewani, Besharam and Bombay Velvet and also a film with Imtiaz Ali and would love to do a film with Zoya Akhtar. I don’t want to be a party animal and spend my days drinking away. I have many close friends who are girls, but that doesn’t mean I’m having affairs with them. I’m not a hot-headed person and I never lose my cool. Though age is just a number, who knows I might find my true love this year,” quips the young Kapoor with his dimpled smile.
Oozing of boyish charm, Ranbir talks on how much fun he had playing a deaf and mute character during the 120 days of the Barfi! shoot.
He says, “The tough part was to be simple. As actors we are usually insecure, but my playing a deaf and mute role taught me to be humble and simple and let the character and the story do the talking. Since I had no dialogues I just had to be at the sets and practice my act and be expressive about how Barfi is feeling. I completely surrendered to Anurag Basu’s direction. It’s a fun film with no moral lessons, but of course it opens up the sensitive side. My name is Murphy but I mumble M for B so it becomes Barfi.”
Were there any apprehensions of any sort, playing such a character, we wonder and he is quick to respond, “Not really. I loved every bit of it. I did watch a few films of Charlie Chaplin, Mr Bean and my grandfather and it was a great learning.”
An avid footballer, Ranbir is all set to promote the sport. The Spanish football club, FC Barcelona has named Ranbir as its Indian brand ambassador. Ranbir shares, “I’m a huge football fan and am hoping to make it big in India. I was elated when I spoke to Messi. Barcelona is planning to fly a few boys and girls from here and teach them the ropes. I take out time on Sundays to play football. I’m also planning a charity match with the stars for a charity organization Playing for Humanity.”
Ranbir is also close friends with India’s boys in blue. He says, “Shooting the commercial with Dhoni was fun. I’m friends with Yuvi, Raina, Virat and Sachin too. They are all so humble. I always message them before every match and they always message me before my film’s release and wish me luck.”
Besides his passion for films, football and cricket, Ranbir adds, “I went to school in New York City and whenever I needed to take a break I flew down to NYC and had fun with my friends there. My closest friend in the industry is Ayan Mukherjee of Wake Up Sid and we like to travel together.”
Talking about the family bonding in Dubai last week, Ranbir says, “We were in Dubai for my dad’s 60th birthday and he was full of life and still passionate about his work. It was a great weekend with lots of food and even Kareena and Karisma were there with my neice Samaira. Though I haven’t planned anything big yet for Kareena’s wedding, I wish her all the luck.”
Explaining the Mama’s boy tag associated with him, he avers, “Every son loves his mom, so I don’t mind being called one. I might be too animated in showing my love, but I like to see a smile on her face when I do so.