Ranbir Kapoor Hopes to Make Directorial Debut in 2-3 Years, Calls It His ‘Last Decade as an Actor’

Ranbir Kapoor is hoping to make his directorial debut within the next two to three years, revealing that he has already started writing a screenplay for his first film. The actor, who is currently promoting Nitesh Tiwari’s “Ramayana”, also described the coming years as his ‘last decade as an actor’, suggesting that he wants to gradually shift his focus towards filmmaking.

In a joint interview with Sai Pallavi for BBC Asian Network, Kapoor spoke about his long-standing ambition to direct and what draws him towards the craft. “I just started writing a script a couple of months back, and it’s so hard to create. I have so much respect for writers and creators,” he said.

Explaining what appeals to him about directing, Kapoor said he finds the creative process particularly exciting. He believes a director experiences a unique creative high through the opportunity to bring people together and tell a story. While he has not settled on a specific genre for his debut, he expressed an interest in making a slice-of-life film, drawing inspiration from titles such as “Life Is Beautiful”, “It’s a Wonderful Life” and the films of Rajkumar Hirani. He described his preferred direction as a feel-good family drama.

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Kapoor also spoke about how he plans to balance his acting commitments with his ambition to direct. “I work only 100-125 days a year; I have a lot of time to write stories,” he said, before adding that he wants to complete his existing franchises and commitments first.

“But, I guess, it’s my last decade as an actor; will I get to play these parts? I do want to kind of pivot towards direction. I don’t want to direct myself for sure. I really want to get these films done ('Brahmastra 2,' 'Animal Park' and 'Ramayana Part 2'), and really get on floors with my directorial debut within 2 or 3 years, I hope,” he added.

This is not the first time Kapoor has spoken about his plans to become a filmmaker. During an Instagram Live session on his birthday in September 2025, the actor revealed that he had started a writers’ room and was developing two ideas. He had then described directing a film as something firmly on his to-do list for the next couple of years.

Kapoor also has a family legacy in filmmaking. His father, Rishi Kapoor, directed “Aa Ab Laut Chalen” (1999), in which Ranbir assisted him as a teenager. He also worked as an assistant director on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Black” before making his acting debut with “Saawariya” in 2007. His grandfather, Raj Kapoor, was one of Hindi cinema’s most influential actor-directors, with films such as “Awaara” and “Shree 420” among his celebrated works.

On the acting front, Kapoor is awaiting the release of several major projects. He is currently seen as Rama in “Ramayana”, alongside Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. He will also star in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Love & War”, featuring Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. His other commitments include “Brahmastra 2”, “Animal Park” and the second instalment of “Ramayana”.

While Kapoor has not announced a directorial project or confirmed a production timeline, his latest comments suggest that he is actively working towards making the transition from actor to filmmaker.