Ranbir Kapoor has confirmed that he is actively working towards his directorial debut. The 44-year-old actor revealed during a joint interview with co-star Sai Pallavi for BBC Asian Network that he has already started writing a script and hopes to be on the floors with his first film as a director within the next two to three years. The conversation took place while promoting Nitesh Tiwari‘s mythological epic Ramayana: Part 1, which arrived in theatres worldwide on November 5, 2026.
Kapoor also described the coming years as his “last decade as an actor,” a remark that immediately led to speculation about retirement. The actor clarified that he was referring to the kind of leading roles he might still get to play at this stage of his career, not an exit from acting altogether. The clarification puts to rest concerns that the Animal star is stepping away from the screen anytime soon.
What Ranbir Kapoor Said About Writing His First Script
Work on the directorial project has already begun at the writing stage. Kapoor shared that he started writing a script a couple of months before the interview and found the process far more demanding than he expected.
“I just started writing a script a couple of months back, and it’s so hard to create. I have so much respect for writers and creators.”
The actor explained what draws him towards direction. In his view, a director experiences a deeper creative involvement than an actor because the director shapes the entire story from its earliest idea to its final execution.
“After a musician, if there’s somebody who feels a creative high, it’s the director. An actor’s high is very superficial but the director, when he directs a movie, however good or bad, the opportunity to tell a story and get all these people together to tell your story, it’s just a beautiful experience and I hope I can do it.”
Kapoor also made it clear that he does not plan to cast himself in the lead role of the films he directs. “I don’t want to direct myself for sure,” he stated during the conversation. That decision separates his directorial ambitions from the trend of actor-directors who frequently headline their own projects.
The Kind of Film Ranbir Kapoor Wants to Make
A specific genre has not been locked in yet, but Kapoor has a clear idea of the tone he is chasing. He named Life Is Beautiful, It’s a Wonderful Life, and the films of Rajkumar Hirani as his primary inspirations for what he wants his first film to feel like.
“I can’t define the genre but I’ll tell you all my favourite films… and I hope it comes in that bracket like Life is Beautiful, It’s a Wonderful Life, Rajkumar Hirani movies. I would say like a feel-good family drama.”
The choice marks a clear shift from the darker, larger-than-life characters Kapoor has played in recent years, including the intense lead role in Animal and the mythological scale of Ramayana. A feel-good family drama as a debut directorial project suggests Kapoor wants to build a different kind of creative identity behind the camera.
The ‘Last Decade as an Actor’ Comment and Its Clarification
The retirement speculation started when Kapoor reflected on his current phase of work during the same interview. He noted that he has never been busier or more committed as an actor, with multiple franchise sequels lined up back-to-back. That reflection led to the remark that caught attention.
“I guess, it’s my last decade as an actor; will I get to play these parts? I do want to kind of pivot towards direction.”
Sai Pallavi, who was seated beside him during the interview, reacted with visible surprise at the comment. Kapoor then explained that his words were about the types of roles he is currently being offered, particularly parts like Lord Rama in Ramayana, rather than a statement about quitting films.
“I’m not looking at it from an audience’s lens, trying to predict that they might get bored of me or I’m too old. I’m looking at it through my lens. If I stay inspired, if I’m getting good work, I would 100 per cent do it.”
Acting will remain an option for Kapoor for as long as he continues to find work that inspires him. He described that feeling of creative inspiration as a luxury, and the clarification makes clear that the “last decade” line is about the limited window for certain kinds of leading roles, not an end date for his acting career.
Ranbir Kapoor’s Acting Commitments Before He Directs
The directorial debut is not happening immediately. Kapoor has mapped out a clear order of priorities, and three major franchise sequels come first: Brahmastra 2, Animal Park (the follow-up to Animal), and Ramayana Part 2.
“I really want to get these films done, and really get on floors with my directorial debut within 2 or 3 years, I hope.”
Time for writing is not the obstacle. Kapoor pointed out that he works around 100 to 125 days a year as an actor, which leaves him with a substantial part of the calendar for creative work away from sets.
“I work only 100-125 days a year; I have a lot of time to write stories. I’ve never ever been so busy, never ever been so committed.”
Beyond the three sequels, Kapoor is also set to appear in Sanjay Leela Bhansali‘s period drama Love & War alongside Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. The film is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on January 21, 2027. His slate of pending projects is why the directorial timeline sits at two to three years rather than sooner.
A Family Legacy of Filmmaking Behind the Camera
Direction runs deep in Kapoor’s family. His grandfather, Raj Kapoor, was one of Hindi cinema’s most influential actor-directors, with films such as Awaara and Shree 420 to his name. His father, Rishi Kapoor, directed Aa Ab Laut Chalen in 1999, a film on which a teenage Ranbir worked as an assistant.
Kapoor also served as an assistant director on Sanjay Leela Bhansali‘s Black before making his acting debut with Saawariya in 2007. That early experience behind the scenes has been part of his film education for nearly two decades, and his directorial ambition has been stated before. During an Instagram Live session on his birthday in September 2025, Kapoor revealed that he had started a writers’ room and was developing two ideas, describing directing as something firmly on his to-do list for the next couple of years.
How Fans Reacted to the Retirement Talk
The “last decade as an actor” line spread quickly across social media, and the reaction was emotional rather than calm. Supporters urged Kapoor not to step away, with many pointing to his age and asking him to keep acting for decades more.
One social media user wrote, “Don’t say like that, Ranbir! You are just 44. We want u another 2 decades. It’s heartbreaking.” Another fan responded to the comment with disbelief: “‘Last decade as an actor’ EXCUSE ME??? Stop speaking, Ranbir Kapoor. You’re not retiring from acting until you’re 85. Alia, please handle this.” A third requested, “Ranbir, please act till you’re 85; please do 40 more movies; please do every movie that’s releasing, I don’t want you retiring from an art you’ve mastered so well.”
The clarification that followed addressed the core of that worry. Kapoor is not retiring. He is planning to add directing to his career, not replace acting with it outright, and he has said he will continue to act if the right roles keep coming his way.
Ramayana Part 1 Performance and Release Context
The interview arrived during a strong box office run for Ramayana: Part 1. The film collected Rs 62.47 crore nett in India across all languages on its opening day, according to Bollywood Hungama, and registered a worldwide gross of Rs 121.62 crore on day one. By day two, the film had crossed the Rs 100 crore nett mark in India, with Indian Express reporting a worldwide gross of over Rs 220 crore within the first two days.
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The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. Ramayana Part 2 is scheduled for release around Diwali 2027. The scale of the project and its sequel commitment form part of why Kapoor has placed his directorial start date after the franchise work wraps.
The conversation around Kapoor’s future adds a new dimension to an already packed phase of his career. A script is in progress, a genre preference is set, and a timeline has been stated. For now, the acting commitments come first, with the camera set to change sides within the next two to three years.
Stay connected with VvipTimes for clear, fact-checked entertainment updates as this story develops.
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