Imran Khan and Ranbir Kapoor burst onto the Bollywood scene around the same time, captivating audiences with their debuts in Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na and Saawariya respectively. Their simultaneous rise to fame led to constant media comparisons, pitting the two young actors against each other. Both actors also made appearances on the popular talk show Koffee with Karan and hosted award ceremonies together, further fueling the public’s interest in their perceived rivalry.
Imran Khan Opens Up About Media Scrutiny
In a recent interview with India Today, Imran Khan discussed the intense media scrutiny that often compared him to Ranbir Kapoor. Imran expressed his frustration, stating, “It’s unfortunate that it would always leave a very unpleasant aftertaste because that’s not how I viewed it and from my conversations with Ranbir back then, he never got into that thing either.”
Imran emphasized that both he and Ranbir were serious about their craft and did not engage in the media’s attempts to create a rivalry. He said, “My recollection of him is that he took the craft very seriously. He is a cinephile. And he was also not engaging in that thing. This is the spicy stuff that they like to talk about in the gossip magazines so it leaves an unpleasant aftertaste but if neither of us are buying into it, then it doesn’t come into that part.”
Maintaining Professional Relationships
Imran shared that despite the media’s efforts to create tension, he and Ranbir maintained a professional and friendly relationship. He recalled instances where they would reach out to each other to ensure there were no misunderstandings. “I recall here and there a couple of particularly ugly things would come out and we would always make it a point to kind of reach out and say ‘Listen, aisa aisa hua hai [this has happened], are we cool?’” Imran said, highlighting their mutual respect and understanding.
Clarifying Misconceptions
Earlier this month, Imran addressed misconceptions regarding his reasons for declining an espionage series, which were mistakenly linked to his critique of Ranbir Kapoor’s film Animal. The Sandeep Reddy Vanga film, a crime action drama, was one of the highest-grossing Hindi movies of 2023 but faced criticism for its portrayal of violence and misogyny. Imran clarified that his decision had nothing to do with Animal and that his comments were being misinterpreted.