Ranbir Kapoor Hints At Retirement From Acting After Ramayana, Says This Is His Final Decade

Mumbai: Actor Ranbir Kapoor's statement “This could be my last decade as an actor” has created a stir among his fans. But the actor made it clear in the same conversation that he is not announcing his decision to quit acting any time soon. He was referring to the special types of characters that he is getting opportunities to play today. Additionally, Ranbir also expressed his desire to make his directorial debut in the next two to three years.

Is Ranbir Kapoor really going to quit acting?

In BBC Asian Network's podcast, Ranbir talked about his working style and future plans. He said that earlier he used to start another film as soon as he finished shooting for one film and did not take much time between work. In this context, he said that this could be his “last decade” as an actor. His Ramayan co-star Sai Pallavi was shocked at this comment. 

What did Ranbir mean by saying “the last decade”?

During the conversation, Ranbir clarified the meaning of his comment. He said that what he meant was the characters he was playing these days—and also the question of where he would get a chance to play such characters in the future. Therefore, it would not be right to consider this statement as a fixed time limit for retirement from acting. He did not say that he would stop working in films after the next decade.

What did Ranbir tell about his plans to direct?

Ranbir said that he wants to turn to direction and has started writing the script of his first film. He said that the work of writing is more difficult than he had imagined and this has made him realise the importance of the work of writers and creators. According to the actor, the director gets the opportunity to bring different people together to tell a story and drive the entire creative process.

Will he also act in his first film?

Ranbir indicated that he was not in favour of casting himself in his own film as a directorial debut. He also said that currently he wants to complete work on some of his current films and sequels. In the conversation, he mentioned Brahmastra 2, Animal 2 and Ramayana: Part 2. After these projects he is hoping to take his first directorial film on the floors in two to three years.

What kind of first directorial film could it be?

Ranbir did not give any definite decision regarding the style of his first film. He expressed interest in biographical stories and films that make the audience feel good. His favourite references include Life Is Beautiful, It's a Wonderful Life and Rajkumar Hirani's films. However, he said that he is still in the initial process of writing his story.

Why did the fans' reaction come into discussion?

After Ranbir's “last decade” statement, many fans on social media expressed concern and appealed to him to continue acting for a long time. While some interpreted the comment as a sign of retirement, the actor's entire statement did not amount to an immediate announcement of quitting acting. His message was more about a possible change in his career—to replace acting with direction.

What is the place of Ramayana in Ranbir's career?

Ranbir is playing the role of Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari directed Ramayan: Part 1. The film was released in theatres on 5 November. Its second part is planned for Diwali 2027. Ranbir's recent comment comes at a time when he is talking about the promotion of the film as well as his next career phase and preparation for direction.