Ranbir Kapoor Wants to Direct a Film: What He Meant by “Last Decade as an Actor”

Ranbir Kapoor has shocked fans with a big career update. The actor says he wants to step behind the camera and direct his first film within the next 2-3 years. He also said this could be his “last decade as an actor”, and the internet reacted fast.

Here’s the full story, in simple words.

Where Did Ranbir Say This?

Ranbir spoke about his future plans in a candid chat with BBC Asian Network. His Ramayana co-star Sai Pallavi was sitting next to him during the interview. Ranbir shared that he has already started writing a script, but he says it is much harder than he thought.

“It’s So Hard to Create”: Ranbir on Writing

Ranbir confessed that picking up the pen has given him immense respect for screenwriters. Crafting an original screenplay from scratch is a humbling process:

“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.”

He also explained why the art of directing excites him on a much deeper level than stepping in front of the camera:

“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.”

What Did “Last Decade as an Actor” Really Mean?

This line spread quickly on social media. Many fans feared Ranbir was planning an early retirement from Bollywood. Sai Pallavi also looked taken aback during the interview and reacted with an instinctive “Ohhh...”.

Ranbir quickly cleared up the confusion. He explained that he was referring specifically to the demanding, larger-than-life roles he currently headlines, such as playing Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s monumental trilogy:

“What I mean is where I can get to play these parts.”

So he is not quitting acting tomorrow. He simply wants to slowly move towards direction as his creative focus matures over the coming years.

How Will He Balance Acting and Directing?

Ranbir pointed out that his disciplined work schedule—shooting only 100 to 125 days in a year—provides ample breathing room to brainstorm and write:

“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. I’ve always had one film out, and then I would start working on the other film. But, 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. I don’t want to direct myself for sure. I really want to get these films done (Brahmastra 2, Animal 2 and Ramayana Part 2), and really get on floors with my directorial debut within 2 or 3 years, I hope.”

Two key insights emerge from this candid confession:

• No self-direction: He has strictly ruled out starring in his own directorial debut, choosing to focus purely on filmmaking from behind the monitor.
• Finishing the mega franchises: He will complete his committed tentpoles—including Brahmāstra Part 2, Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal Park, and Ramayana Part 2—before taking the director's chair.

What Kind of Film Does Ranbir Want to Make?

While he has not finalized the precise narrative yet, Ranbir knows the emotional resonance he wants to evoke in audiences. He cited cinematic masterpieces like Life Is Beautiful, Frank Capra’s festive classic It’s a Wonderful Life, and Rajkumar Hirani’s warmhearted dramedies as his greatest touchstones.

Instead of dark thrillers or heavy epics, Ranbir aims to craft a warm family drama that leaves viewers with a smile and a lighter heart.

This Is Not the First Time

Ranbir has harboured directorial ambitions for years. Back in September 2025, during an Instagram Live session with fans, he openly admitted:

“I am dying to direct a movie.”

At that time, he shared that he had put together a writers’ room and was actively developing two distinct conceptual outlines. His latest BBC chat proves that the vision is steadily taking shape, even though no formal title or production banner has been officially unveiled yet.

Ranbir Kapoor’s Upcoming Films

Buzz Originals Take

A director Ranbir in the next few years actually makes total sense. Having worked under cinematic maestros like Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Imtiaz Ali, Anurag Basu, and Rajkumar Hirani, he possesses an instinctive masterclass education in filmmaking. Choosing high-voltage action and mythic epics now, followed by a heartfelt, family-style story behind the camera, is a natural artistic evolution.

Whether he truly slows down on acting or seamlessly juggles both hats like Clint Eastwood or Bradley Cooper is something only time will tell.

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