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Bollywood son rises

Ranbir is no stranger to the movies.

Heir to the Kapoor legacy, art's written on his heart. And with his grand debut, which is an eyelash blink away, in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya displaying his histrionic skills as only Bhansali can, the audience too will be no stranger to him.

Acting was but a natural progression for the youngest Kapoor given his illustrious lineage in the profession right from Prithviraj Kapoor to Raj Kapoor to Rishi.

Did acting choose Ranbir or did he choose acting purely by way of being born in the Kapoor family?

Ranbir: I think it was a blend of both. I was passionate about acting and born in a family like ours, I guess acting chose me.

Neetu: He was always into checking out his face and enacting dialogues from various movies of his father's films, always the entertainer at birthday parties. I always knew at the back of my mind that acting is what he would choose later on.

Rishi: I didn't really know how and when Ranbir would become an actor or whether RK or someone else would launch him. In fact after seeing Devdas, I was reminded of my father's work and on my way home in the car, I'd told Neetu that this is one director who would do justice to Ranbir. Those were real prophetic words that came true with Sanjay launching him in Saawariya.

Did he adapt conscious mannerisms of his parents?

Ranbir: Maybe subconsciously, as I've been exposed to my parents', my grandfather's and great grandfather's work too. My father's a natural actor, without a particular style. Physically, I look like my mom, though my voice is like dad's. I'm too new to answer this question as I have to still wait for the audience's verdict on me.

Rishi: That's a good answer! I'm an actor without mannerisms and I would hate it if Ranbir had any either!

Neetu: He doesn't have a body of work yet. Ranbir's not like anyone else.

If Raj Kapoor were alive today, which way would the scales tip? RK or Sanjay Leela Bhansali?

Rishi: Sanjay, because Raj Kapoor made heroine-oriented films!

Ranbir: Raj Kapoor.

Neetu: I think they're both right.

Fine dining and wining are quintessential Kapoor traits. Weight issues?

Ranbir: I'm fond of good food and I work out. And I have to drink this awful vegetable juice my mom makes every morning clamping my nose shut!

Neetu: Ranbir's got a tendency to lose weight! He has a very athletic body and high metabolism.

Rishi: Neetu's our nutritionist. I love working out to feel energised.

How would Rishi and Neetu define their respective film careers even as Ranbir is poised to start his innings as an actor?

Rishi: I have a body of good work behind me and I look forward to doing good roles which are hard to come by. I'm rather busy working as an actor right now to think of direction.

Neetu: I have forgotten how to act.

Rishi: What are you saying? Acting is like cycling. Once you learn, you can't forget.

Neetu: I am so out of it I will never be able to get back to it. Maybe for Ranbir, I may just try and remember my craft again!