Ranbir Kapoor reveals dad Rishi Kapoor was extremely critical of his work; says he announced 'Saawariya' would flop

Rishi Kapoor was never one to hold back, known for his candid and blunt personality. He didn’t hesitate to share his honest opinions about his son Ranbir Kapoor’s films, even predicting some wouldn’t do well, including Ranbir’s debut Saawariya. In a recent chat, Ranbir opened up about these conversations with his father and the straightforward feedback he received.

At the ongoing International Film Festival of India, Ranbir Kapoor shared a memory of his father, Rishi Kapoor, who, after watching Barfi a day before its release, told him that while he was a good actor, he should stop doing art films.



The actor praised his father, Rishi, as a true artist with a sharp eye for detail. He recalled a time during the shoot of his debut film Saawariya in Karjat, when Rishi visited the set. Observing everything, he asked questions like why there was a Buddha on set, why there were so many windows, and why the scene was set at night instead of morning. Ranbir, noticing his father’s old-school approach, responded that things had changed in filmmaking.

Ranbir recalled how, after observing the Saawariya set, his father, sat in his car and told his mother that the movie wouldn't work. Rishi believed that films shouldn’t alienate the audience with unfamiliar settings or time periods, and there should be some relatability. While Ranbir didn’t fully appreciate his father’s words at the time, he now understands their importance.



'The 'Animal' star has been open about the complexities in his relationship with his father, Rishi Kapoor. In a conversation with Nikhil Kamath, Ranbir recalled a time when they spent a year together in New York during Rishi's treatment. He shared how, after 45 days, his father broke down in tears, a moment of vulnerability Ranbir had never witnessed before. It was awkward for him, and he regretted not being able to bridge the emotional distance and offer his father the comfort and love he needed at that moment.