Why Ranbir Kapoor missed a chance to work with dad

Dec 18, 2009 Subhash K Jha

Mumbai, Dec 18 (IANS) Ranbir Kapoor, who is expected to direct Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan in his directorial debut late next year, missed an opportunity to team up with his dad in the recently released "Rocket Singh - The Salesman of The Year" because producer Aditya Chopra thought it wasn't a good idea.

"The entire Yash Raj team was all for casting Rishi Kapoor as Ranbir's boss. Only Adi (Aditya Chopra) thought the audiences would not accept Rishi Kapoor as a negative boss to his own son. We had to relent," said a source.

Rishi confirms that he was indeed considered for Ranbir's boss' part in the film.

"I'm told all at Yash Raj wanted me to play the role. They finally decided otherwise. I think they felt the baap-beta jodi wouldn't be acceptable as boss-employee," Rishi told IANS.

However, Rishi is all praise for Manish Choudhary who replaces him in the film. "Manish is the discovery of the year."

Talking about his son's performance in the film, Rishi said: "Ranbir has lived the character Rocket Singh, though I feel there should've been more Punjabiyat in his speech."

Ranbir, who has been waiting with bated breath to get his father's approval, is thrilled to get a thumbs-up from his dad.

"Dad is my greatest critic. He's such a brilliant actor, I can never match him. When he said he liked my performance in 'Rocket Singh', I finally felt I had given a decent performance," said Ranbir.

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Rocket Singh - Salesman of the Year