On Ranbir Kapoor’s birthday, reminiscing on his relationship with father Rishi Kapoor

As Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor celebrates his 39th birthday on Tuesday, his relationship with late father actor Rishi Kapoor remains a sensitive one to reminisce. Son of Rishi Kapoor and veteran Bollywood actor Neetu Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor made his debut with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya in 2007. 

He went on to do many other films, including Barfi, Sanju, Rockstar and others that led him to become one of the most sought-after actors in the industry. While his work has always been the talk of the town, so has his personal life. From his love life to his relationship with father Rishi Kapoor, there have been instances when they’ve made headlines.

His relationship with his father had been less than perfect for a long time, Rishi Kapoor shared in an interview. He further admitted to screwing things up with Ranbir. In an interview with Mumbai Mirror in 2015, Rishi spoke about how poorly he and Neetu took Ranbir’s decision to move out of the family home, and live with his then girlfriend, Katrina Kaif.

“My father gave me space when I moved out after marriage and I give Ranbir his space too when he decided to move out and share a home with his girlfriend. In this house, he had one room: how could that be enough for a 33-year-old boy? He’s a great son, he listens to me but I don’t interfere in his career because my career is mine and his is his. I know I’ve screwed up my relationship with Ranbir even though my wife kept telling me about what I was doing. It’s now too late to change it; both of us will not be able to adjust to the change. It’s like there’s this glass wall, we can see each other, we can talk, but that’s it. He doesn’t live with us anymore, which is also a very big setback to Neetu and me. We’re building a new home where there will be a lot of place for him and his family. Till then, life goes on.”

Things, however, progressed for better between them with time. Ranbir quickly stood by Rishi Kapoor and made no delays in getting him to New York for the best treatment when his father was diagnosed with cancer in 2018.  Rishi told a leading daily, “There was no time to react. I was shooting in Delhi. I was on the sixth day shoot of a new film, when my son (Ranbir Kapoor) and a close family associate came to Delhi, spoke to my producers and explained the problem. By evening, they got me to Mumbai and soon after, they flew me to New York. I had no time to react or introspect. My son literally forced me into the aircraft and flew here with me. The acceptance comes gradually.”

Rishi Kapoor passed away in April 2020. Ranbir told journalist Rajeev Masand in December, “It has been quite a big year in my life, starting with losing a parent, which I don’t think has seeped in yet. I am still, in some ways, dealing with that.”