The evergreen superstar, Anil Kapoor, recently got candid at the FICCI Frames 2025 event, sharing stories and insights from his illustrious career. While discussing how actors handle the pressures of fame and failure, he revealed a touching and insightful anecdote from the sets of the blockbuster film Animal, involving his co-star, Ranbir Kapoor.
Anil Kapoor’s story gives a rare glimpse into the vulnerability of even the biggest stars and the importance of mentorship in the high-stakes world of Bollywood.
Ranbir Was ‘Very Down’ After Shamshera’s Failure
Anil Kapoor recalled a specific day on the set of Animal when Ranbir Kapoor arrived feeling low. Ranbir’s film Shamshera had just been released and had unfortunately not performed well at the box office. The failure was clearly weighing on the young superstar.
Anil revealed, “I remember when I was shooting on the set of Animal, and Ranbir came, his film Shamshera had just released, he was very down.” He shared that Ranbir was worried about how he was being perceived on set, telling Anil, “‘Everyone is just looking at me, I’ve delivered such a big flop.'” In that moment of self-doubt, the veteran actor offered some simple, yet powerful advice: “I told him to give one good shot and everyone will forget.”
How Anil Kapoor Handled The Situation
The support didn’t stop there. Anil Kapoor mentioned that the next day, during a photoshoot, he spoke to Ranbir again to reassure him. He told the younger actor that the feeling of being watched was mostly in his imagination.
He advised him, “It’s cool. You are imagining the people. Once you’re accepted, once you’re doing honest work, it’s cool. Because success and failure is not in your hands. You just go and do it honestly.” This advice worked wonders. “And that’s how it happened. The next day, we were all mixing and jamming with Vanga and he was okay,” Anil shared.
Anil Kapoor’s Own Mantra For Handling Criticism
This advice came from a place of deep experience. During the discussion, Anil Kapoor shared his own mantra for dealing with criticism. He admitted that while reviews can sometimes affect him, he uses them as fuel. “It makes me more aggressive, more energetic, more angry. I don’t go into sadness,” he explained.
He emphasized the importance of blocking out the constant “noise” that surrounds a star, a skill he says took him over 45 years to master. His ability to bounce back and his understanding that young actors are more affected by criticism is what likely made his advice to Ranbir so effective and meaningful.
About Animal
Animal is a blockbuster 2023 action-drama directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. The film, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, and Rashmika Mandanna, was a massive commercial success, known for its intense performances and gritty storyline.
Stay tuned with us for latest news, Hindi box office news, Hollywood news, OTT news, latest Bollywood news, and latest box office news.
