Belonging to an influential film family comes with a lot of responsibility. It isn’t easy to escape the constant media gaze on your career trajectory and even personal life. But none of this has ever bothered Ranbir Kapoor. The handsome Kapoor lad who entered the film industry with the tag of ‘Neetu and Rishi Kapoor’s son’ silenced many with his unmissable charm, brave movie choices and a never give up attitude.

Hailed as the new-age superstar, Ranbir spoke volumes through his work and experimented with stories that most conventional Bollywood heroes would never even touch. Choosing quality work and critical acclaim over box office results and commercial aspects, Ranbir made people sit up and take notice of him as an actor instead of a star.

Going brave with his choices, Ranbir wore the crown of the king of experiments and showed trust in filmmakers with a vision. Today, as Ranbir completed 15 years in the film industry, let’s take a look at his brave and unconventional choices that made him stand out.

Wake Up Sid

While Ranbir’s first two films-Saawariya and Bachna Ae Haseeno-established him as a quintessential romantic hero, Wake Up Sid was rightfully his first experiment as an actor. Exuding boyish charm that made many girls swoon, he sunk in deep into the character’s personality and delivered nothing but a masterstroke. Wake Up Sid remains to be one of Ranbir’s best films. Probably no other actor could have pulled it off as effortlessly as he did.

Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani

Comedy is a tricky genre and Ranbir aced it early in his career. When people were quick to assume he is meant for a certain genre of cinema, he hit the ball out of the park with Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani. His comic timing was as perfect as his chemistry with Katrina Kaif.

Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year

Rocket Singh became the salesman of the year and Ranbir Kapoor was crowned the actor of the year. Though the film failed to garner the desired attention at the box office, it is now getting its due thanks to OTT platforms. Ranbir gave one of his career’s most endearing and lovable performances.

Rockstar

Hello Ranbir Kapoor 2.0! Making Sadda Haq, Aithe Rakh a popular cry for justice and equality, the actor underwent a 360-degree transformation for Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar. Proving his mettle once again, Ranbir became the talk of the town. Rockstar is one such film that finds its mention in the golden chapters of Indian cinema.

Barfi

A lead actor playing a deaf and dumb character is a fascinating idea. Add Ranbir’s charm and flawless acting record to it. The result was Barfi. There can never be a replacement for what Ranbir did in the Anurag Basu directorial.

Tamasha

Tamasha is a Ranbir Kapoor film. Period. Showing two facets of the same person, he made his audience believe that he is an underrated actor who is yet to get his due. At a time when mental health, depression, and anxiety were underexplored concepts, Ranbir chose Tamasha and did the heavy lifting in the second half with perfection.

Shamshera

Shamshera saw Ranbir in a double role for the first time. Carrying the film on his shoulder, the actor experimented with a dacoit drama that Bollywood hadn’t seen in the longest time. Despite the commercial and critical failure, Shamshera did establish Ranbir as a versatile actor.

Brahmastra

Brahmastra took over 10 years to be made and Ranbir kept his trust in the process. The wait and efforts did bear sweet fruits as the mytho-fantasy film directed by Ayan Mukerji was widely appreciated and emerged as a box office winner.

Happy 15 years, Ranbir! Keep experimenting and winning hearts.