Ranbir Kapoor opens up about working with Anil Kapoor in Animal: I see a lot of my father in him

Ranbir Kapoor has been earning praises for his performance in the recent outing Animal. The film stars Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna and Bobby Deol in pivotal roles. In an interview before the film, the Barfi actor spoke about his connection with Anil Kapoor and how the bond strengthened during the film shoot. 

Ranbir Kapoor says Anil Kapoor is similar to his father 

Ahead of the release of Animal, Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor attended the opening of a new theatre. While interacting with fans at the event, Ranbir Kapoor expressed gratitude to Anil, who plays his father in the film. He said, “Thank you, Anil uncle, for doing this. I have shared a very warm relationship with him all these years. To play father-son relationship with him was very grateful.” 

He went on to say that Anil Kapoor reminds him a lot about his father. He said, “I see a lot of my father in him, because they come from similar generations, they have similar thinking patterns. While performing with him, there were a lot of sweet memories that I could recall.” He also complimented Anil Kapoor in his age by saying he, “doesn't look like my father but my younger brother.”       

Ranbir Kapoor recalls when Anil Kapoor said he will play a father only for him

In the same event, Ranbir Kapoor also recalled a conversation he had with Anil Kapoor when he was debuting in Sawariya along with his daughter Sonam Kapoor. He recalled, “He promised me long back, when I was debuting with his daughter, Sonam Kapoor... He had said, 'Main kisi ka baap nahi banoonga, lekin jab tu film leke aayega main tera baap banoonga'.” 

Animal showcases a violent world set against the backdrop of a troubled relationship between Ranbir Kapoor's Arjun Singh and his father Balbir Singh, played by Anil Kapoor. Drawing parallels with his equation with his real-life father, Ranbir Kapoor said his relationship with Rishi Kapoor was a combination of love, respect and fear. "The relationship that I shared with my father, like most of the father-son relationships in India... There's a bit of distance, a bit of fear but there's also love and respect. Animal is about seeing a father-son relationship through an obsessed son, so it is very different from what I probably shared in real life. Somewhere, subconsciously, you have certain beats and moments in life, the emotional bank to play such scenes," the actor added.

(With inputs from PTI)