Why the star’s alleged affairs are camouflaging his huge talent
He is not your quintessential star. He does not have the looks. He does not pump iron like most macho actors. He has his mom on his speed-dial and apparently still continues to take 1500 rupees (£21) as pocket money from her.
Yet Ranbir Kapoor, all of seven films old, is by far the most versatile Bollywood star in the industry today. Perhaps it’s the genes that he possesses, but right from his personality to his emoting, he is a natural in front of the camera.
However, while his performances in his movies are talked about, it is his personal life that is keeping him in the headlines. In the past four years his string of affairs with a bevy of beauties has got him more footage than his work in the industry.
Normal? Sure, after all he is a Bollywood star. He’s young, successful and perhaps following his grandfather’s footsteps who was known to be a ladies’ man. But RK senior was never vilified as his grandson.
When Ranbir’s former girlfriend Deepika and debut co-star Sonam heaped scorn on him for his alleged wild and deceiving ways, it was perhaps the most deplorable thing done on Indian television.
Ranbir, perhaps, is no saint. But surely the girls who were pointing the finger had a few pointing back. Deepika herself was dating someone before Ranbir stepped into her life. We didn’t hear her ex-boyfriend going on television to complain about it.
Perhaps it was the case of hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. But there’s a dignified way of dealing with a broken heart despite being provoked by anchor Karan Johar. But Ranbir’s dignity was intact as he hardly said a word against the two in what became a national embarrassment on Indian television.
Since then he has moved on and was allegedly dating Katrina Kaif and very recently, if rumours are to be believed, his co-star in his new film Rockstar – Nargis Fakhri. The press, of course, has a story on almost a daily basis on him and his alleged relationships.
The most recent was that Salman Khan is unhappy with him after Ranbir gave an interview stating he never dated Katrina.
In all this, Ranbir the actor is almost forgotten. You have to see his varied performances, whether it’s Rajneeti where his character is that of scheming son, or the lost lover boy in Bachna Ae Haseeno or the lost boy in Wake Up Sid. He is almost the complete package.
And if that was not enough, his comic timing in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani made just about everyone sit up. No wonder even Badshah SRK is supposed to have called him and told him that he can’t be so good at such an early stage.
You’ll have to look around Bollywood to find good actors. With scenic locations, song-and-dance sequences, somehow acting gets camouflaged. Maybe Aamir is an exception. So RK is perhaps a breath of fresh air in an industry where overacting is a norm.
Perhaps it’s still early days in his career. His next two movies – Rockstar and Barfi – will be a crucial test as he battles allegations in his relationships. And while all this is peripheral and will continue with every film he acts in and romances his co-star, the fact is that he is the most outstanding actor the Indian film industry has seen in years.
And we should celebrate that.
– Kevin Rego
