My first love lasted two years: Ranbir Kapoor

Ranbir Kapoor, who turns 27 on Monday, talks to DNA about growing up, teasing girls, and Deepika Padukone.

Youngsters in their 20s are often unsure of their career choices. Have you ever been confused about what to do in life?
Career-wise, no. See, there has always been only one aim for me — to get into the film industry. As a child you want to be a karate instructor, an astronaut and all that. But I never felt like I wanted to be any of those things because right from the time I was a little kid, it was quite clear that films is where I’ll end up.

But all your friends must have wanted to do different things. It never made you shift focus from films?
Funnily, all my closest friends are already part of the film industry, or will be part of it soon. Rohit Dhawan (David Dhawan’s son), Benoy Gandhi and Ayesha are my closest friends. Rohit is turning director soon, Ayesha is a stylist and Benoy has filmmaking dreams too. Besides, when both your parents are in the same profession, you tend to be friends with kids whose parents are in the industry too.

So you have never been without a sense of purpose in life?
Not really. I never went through that phase where I’m just out of college and don’t know what my next step should be, unlike Sid. It was all very clear in my head: I finish school here, go abroad to learn filmmaking and come back and join the industry, which is pretty much what I did.

In college, you are carefree, just wanting to have the time of your life and not thinking about what the future holds in store. I knew a lot of people like that. And that’s how it should be — college life is pretty much the best phase of your life.

Especially since school wasn’t the best time for you, what with your parents being called every other day with a complaint about you.
It wasn’t every other day! It was a few times yes. I was never really very good academically, so there would be complaints about my work or the fact that I was being a little naughty.

Naughty in what way?
Well, like I would tease girls a lot.

Like in a filmy way: sing songs, catcalls?
I was too shy to do any of that. It was usually just banter. In fact, I didn’t talk much to girls till the last three years of school. I had my first girlfriend too around that time. It was a good relationship; it lasted for two years.    

What was film school like in New York?
It was wonderful to be on my own, that too in the world’s best city! I went there with my friend Abhay Chopra (filmmaker Ravi Chopra’s friend) and together we soaked in the experience.

The freedom must have been exhilarating.
It was. But at the same time, it inculcated in me a sense of responsibility I would never have got at home. Of course, when you get that kind of freedom, you don’t always make the right decisions. I made a few wrong ones too — dabbled in a few vices — but only to realise I didn’t want them, which was good because it was a decision I was able to make for myself.

How’s it being in a relationship with another rising star?
It suits us well actually. Both Deepika and me are just starting out in our professions, and doing some really good work. Although we don’t really discuss our professional matters when we’re together, we do exchange notes on scripts offered to us and give feedback to each other on our performances. 

Your dad and mom still make a great pair on screen.
It was great to watch both mom and dad in the same frame after so long. (Neetu Singh appeared in a cameo recently with hubby Rishi Kapoor.)