Ranbir Kapoor Photo courtesy: PTI

Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor stressed the importance of staying connected to his roots as he announced a nationwide film festival in honor of his grandfather, legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor. The announcement was made during a session of the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa ahead of Raj Kapoor’s 100th birth anniversary on December 14.

Speaking to a packed auditorium at the Academy of Arts, Goa, Ranbir shared that the Raj Kapoor Film Festival will take place across India from December 13-15, which will feature restored versions of 10 iconic Raj Kapoor films. The restoration work is a collaborative effort involving the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC), the National Film Archives of India (NFAI), the Film Heritage Foundation and Raj Kapoor’s nephew Kunal Kapoor.

Ranbir reflected on the relevance of celebrating cinematic legends, saying, “It is important that we remember our roots – not just Raj Kapoor, but the many filmmakers and artistes who have left an indelible mark on Indian cinema.” He expressed his gratitude to IFFI for organizing the event and encouraging the younger generation to explore the classic works of Raj Kapoor.

To underline his point about staying connected to his roots, Ranbir shared an anecdote about his wife and actor Alia Bhatt. “When I met Alia for the first time, she didn’t know who Kishore Kumar was. It’s just the circle of life. People are forgotten and new artists take their place.

Ranbir also touched on his dream of making a biopic on Raj Kapoor’s life, calling it a challenging but worthwhile endeavour. “A biopic is not just about celebrating someone’s success but portraying their struggles, relationships and shortcomings honestly. I have talked to Sanjay Leela Bhansali about this, but it is a difficult project. I’m not sure if my family would agree to show that side of her life,” he explained.

On the professional front, Ranbir Kapoor expressed his excitement about reuniting with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in his upcoming film love and war“It feels the same working with him after 17 years. His passion for cinema is unmatched,” he shared. He is also preparing for a variety of projects, including animal park And Nitesh Tiwari’s RamayanaWhere he will reportedly play the role of Lord Ram.