Ranbir Kapoor is one of Indian cinema’s biggest stars — a four-time Filmfare Best Actor winner and fourth-generation heir of Bollywood’s first family, the Kapoors. Now 44, he is headlining the most ambitious Indian film ever made: Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part Ramayana, in which he plays Lord Ram — trailer 2 released October 15, 2026, worldwide release November 5.
| Full name | Ranbir Raj Kapoor |
| Born | 28 September 1982, Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actor, film producer |
| Known for | Rockstar, Barfi!, Sanju, Animal, Ramayana: Part 1 |
| Spouse | Alia Bhatt (married 14 April 2022) |
| Children | 1 (daughter Raha, born 6 November 2022) |
| Awards | 7 Filmfare Awards, including 4 Best Actor trophies |
Early life & background
Ranbir Raj Kapoor was born on 28 September 1982 in Bombay to actors Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh (NDTV). He is the great-grandson of Prithviraj Kapoor and the grandson of actor-director Raj Kapoor, with an elder sister, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni (born 1980), an interior and fashion designer. His paternal uncle is actor Randhir Kapoor, and actresses Karisma and Kareena Kapoor are his first cousins (Wikipedia).
Of Punjabi descent, Kapoor was born to a Hindu father and a Sikh mother, and grew up in what he has described as a secular household. He studied at Bombay Scottish School in Mahim until Class 10, completed pre-university at H.R. College of Commerce and Economics, then studied filmmaking at New York’s School of Visual Arts and method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute (News18).
Before acting, Kapoor assisted his father on Aa Ab Laut Chalen (1999), then worked for Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Black (2005) — an apprenticeship he later said he took to earn an acting offer from Bhansali (Wikipedia).
Career
Debut and breakthrough (2007–2010)
Bhansali cast Kapoor as the lead of his tragic romance Saawariya (2007), opposite fellow debutante Sonam Kapoor. The film failed at the box office — but Kapoor won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut (NDTV).
2009 was the year Kapoor arrived: Wake Up Sid, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year — a trio that won him the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor. Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti (2010) followed, a major commercial success (filmography).
Rise to stardom (2011–2013)
Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar (2011) made Kapoor the serious actor of his generation: his turn as the troubled musician Jordan won both the Best Actor and Critics trophies at the 57th Filmfare Awards.
Anurag Basu’s Barfi! (2012) — Kapoor as a cheerful deaf-and-mute man in a Chaplin-inspired performance — earned him a second consecutive Filmfare Best Actor award and became India’s official entry for the 85th Academy Awards. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013) became one of the highest-grossing Indian films of its time, his third consecutive commercial success in three years (Wikipedia).
Setbacks and the Sanju comeback (2014–2019)
After Roy (2015) and the costly Bombay Velvet (2015), Kapoor’s mid-decade run faltered — Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016) the lone exception. Rajkumar Hirani’s Sanju (2018) — Kapoor’s transformation into Sanjay Dutt — ended the drought as the highest-grossing Hindi film of 2018, winning him the 2019 Filmfare Best Actor award.
Brahmāstra, Animal and the Ramayana era (2022–present)
After a hiatus he returned with Brahmāstra (2022) and Animal (2023) — his highest-grossing release at roughly ₹9 billion — winning a fourth Filmfare Best Actor award (Filmfare).
Now comes the biggest swing of his career. Ramayana: Part 1 — directed by Nitesh Tiwari, produced by Namit Malhotra, music by A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer — casts Kapoor as Lord Ram opposite Yash’s Ravana, with Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. Trailer 2 was unveiled on October 15, 2026 at a Bengaluru event (Prime Focus Studios and Monster Mind Creations, Sony Pictures on international distribution) (India TV; ETV Bharat). The film opens worldwide on November 5, 2026, with Part 2 slated for Diwali 2027. Kapoor has said he first declined the role four years ago, feeling “not worthy of playing Lord Ram” — becoming a father changed his mind (ABP Live).
Next he reunites with Bhansali — the director who launched him — on Love & War, which wrapped principal photography in early September 2026 and releases January 21, 2027, co-starring Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal (The Week; Filmfare). Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal Park is also in his lineup.
Major achievements
- 7 Filmfare Awards, including Best Actor for Rockstar (2012), Barfi! (2013), Sanju (2019) and Animal (2024) — plus the Critics Award twice and Best Male Debut (Filmfare).
- Regular on Forbes India’s Celebrity 100 list — ranked 17th in 2018 (₹44.5 crore earnings) and 45th in 2019 (₹45 crore) (Forbes India).
- Barfi! was India’s official Oscar submission; Sanju the top-grossing Hindi film of 2018; Animal his biggest release ever.
- Co-owner and founding partner of Indian Super League club Mumbai City FC with Bimal Parekh — full control returned to the pair on December 26, 2025, when majority owner City Football Group exited amid ISL uncertainty (Hindustan Times/PTI).
Personal life
Kapoor married actress Alia Bhatt on April 14, 2022, at their Mumbai home; they fell in love on the Brahmāstra set, and their daughter Raha was born on November 6, 2022 (NDTV; Gulf News).
Beyond cinema, Kapoor is invested in Indian football via Mumbai City FC. He has said becoming a father influenced his decision to accept the role of Lord Ram (ABP Live).
Net worth snapshot
Ranbir Kapoor’s reported net worth sits in the ₹345–500 crore range (roughly US$40–70 million), based on Indian media estimates from September 2026. No Forbes, Bloomberg or Hurun static valuation exists — the articles must say so plainly. Read the full breakdown in Ranbir Kapoor’s net worth: reported per-film fees of ₹50–70 crore, Forbes India Celebrity 100 earnings history, a vast Mumbai real-estate portfolio, and the 2026 land-buying spree that added a 25.7-acre Pune parcel and an Ayodhya plot. For Bollywood-earnings context, see Salman Khan’s net worth.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ranbir Kapoor’s age?
Ranbir Kapoor was born on 28 September 1982, so he turned 44 on September 28, 2026.
Is Ranbir Kapoor related to Raj Kapoor?
Yes. Raj Kapoor is his paternal grandfather, making Ranbir the great-grandson of Prithviraj Kapoor — the patriarch of Bollywood’s Kapoor family.
Who is Ranbir Kapoor married to?
He is married to actress Alia Bhatt. They wed on April 14, 2022, at their Mumbai home after dating since the Brahmāstra shoot. Their daughter Raha was born on November 6, 2022.
What is Ranbir Kapoor’s next movie?
Ramayana: Part 1, in which he plays Lord Ram, releases worldwide on November 5, 2026 (Part 2 is slated for Diwali 2027). He then stars opposite Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War, releasing January 21, 2027.
Sources
- NDTV — Who is Ranbir Kapoor
- Wikipedia — Ranbir Kapoor (cross-check)
- News18 — celebrity education profile
- Filmfare — all Filmfare awards won by Ranbir Kapoor
- Forbes India — Celebrity 100 list 2019
- India TV — Ramayana second trailer (Oct 15, 2026)
- ABP Live — “I am not worthy of playing Lord Ram”
- The Week — Love & War release date
- Hindustan Times/PTI — City Football Group exits Mumbai City FC