Jeddah [Saudi Arabia], December 9: Reflecting on his 17-year film career, actor Ranbir Kapoor credited his debut film Saawariya for instilling humility in him and preparing him for the ups and downs of the film industry. The early setback in his career served as a foundation for facing future challenges in his acting journey.
In an interview with Deadline, Ranbir shared that he has acted in around 21 or 22 films over the years, with each one bringing a significant change in him. He particularly singled out Saawariya for having the greatest impact on his life and career.
He recalled, “I’ve done around 21 or 22 films in my 17-year career, and every film has brought about some change.” Ranbir further emphasized that failure had a bigger influence on him than success, saying, “I always believe that failure has changed me more than a successful film. So, I would say my first film, Saawariya, which was a big disaster at the box office, had the biggest impact. Directed by one of the masters of Indian cinema, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, it didn’t work at the box office and was widely ridiculed. But it kind of prepared me very early on about what this industry is like, what it’s like to be an actor — the highs and lows. I think it humbled me.”
Released in 2007, Saawariya marked the debut of Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor. The film tells the story of Raj (Ranbir), a wandering singer who falls in love with Sakina (Sonam), a beautiful young woman already in love with Imaan (Salman Khan), who has promised to return to her. The movie also stars Rani Mukerji as Gulabji and features the late Padma Vibhushan awardee Zohra Sehgal in her final film appearance before her passing in 2014.