Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan: Ranbir Kapoor

He looks as excited as a kid with a new toy as he signs autographs, poses with people at a meet and greet session, and gives interviews. And all this at about 11 in the morning, when he professes he went to sleep only towards 5 am.

“I hate this post production selling of the movie. You ask me anything with a hint of question in it and I will promptly tell you about my role,” he laughs. “It has become an actor’s job these days – selling the movie, publicity, promotion. So, it’s almost a movie in itself. So it’s like I have made two movies – one in which I have acted, and the other one is a sort of travelling one, where I take it from city to city.” Ranbir says.

Feeling the pressure? “The word pressure has been associated with me since Saawariya. First it was like the Kapoor kid, whether he will perform or not, then it was like will he make it, and then post Rockstar, it became will he live up to it, but I don’t take it to heart, or to my head. No tensions, I do my work, and leave the rest to whoever is there to take care of it.

I want to carry forward my grandfather’s legacy, yes, I want the love, the respect, the works. But all at my pace, and on my terms. I know that I am a phenomenal actor. I am not a superstar yet, but I will get there. I have only explored 5% of my talent right now. So, I will push myself, to work, work harder, and I will hope that one day, my personal life takes a backspace and my work begins to become the talk of the town,” says Ranbir.

My grandmother once told me a story about my grandfather,Raj Kapoor. Of how, when Awaara had been released, he was called to Russia for a screening. He had gone there, the screening happened, and outside the theatre, more Russians were waiting to get a glimpse of him. There was a 10,000 strong crowd, so, he goes out, he waves, and he gets into the car. And the crowd carried the car till the hotel – it was not set down once! That is success, that is the kind of love and respect I aspire to attain. I want my work to do that to people,” says Ranbir.

But we do love him – we know everything about him, know who he is dating, who he went to party with… and more. Ranbir laughs. “I know, but thankfully, last year at least, like post Rockstar, people have spoken of my work as well, and asked me about my work, taking me more seriously as an actor, so that’s reassuring and great. But come on yaar, I am 29, about to turn 30. I work hard, I am successful, I am not married, I am a heterosexual, so if I do take someone out on a date, or go for coffee with someone sometime, where’s the harm? ”

Are you single? Or dating? Or figuring things out? What? “I am more single than the word single. You know, in more ways than one, the phrase Jeena Yahan, Marna Yahaan fits me and my work. I have fun on the sets, I have people around me, everything. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to fall in love, get married and all. I am happy visiting my sister in Delhi, and playing with the new love of my life, my darling, adorable niece Samara.”