Ranbir Kapoor Breaks Lover-Boy Image With Animal

Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor has finally said it out loud for years, he was largely seen as the industry’s go-to romantic hero. From soft-hearted lovers to conflicted coming-of-age men, that image followed him through a major part of his career. But with Animal, Ranbir believes that chapter has officially closed.

Since his debut in Saawariya back in 2007, Ranbir Kapoor steadily built a reputation for emotionally layered yet gentle characters. Films like Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahaani, Barfi, Tamasha and even Sanju showcased his vulnerability, charm and romantic appeal. Audiences loved him for it, but the actor admits it also quietly boxed him in.

That perception changed dramatically with Animal, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s dark, violent and polarising revenge drama. The film presented Ranbir in a raw, unsettling avatar that few expected and that was exactly what drew him to the role.

During a recent audience interaction in Japan, ahead of Animal’s release there on February 13, Ranbir opened up about why he agreed to play Rannvijay. He credited Vanga for seeing something in him that most filmmakers hadn’t. Ranbir shared that he initially found the character frightening, calling it a risky choice for an actor known for romantic roles. However, the director’s confidence in him pushed him to take the leap.

What fascinated Ranbir most about Rannvijay was not just the violence, but the emotional chaos beneath it. He described the character as fiercely protective, volatile and deeply emotional someone capable of going to extreme lengths for family. According to the actor, that emotional core is what connected audiences to the film across cultures and countries.

In Animal, Ranbir portrays Ranvijay Vijay Singh, a man shaped by childhood trauma and a deeply strained relationship with his emotionally distant father, played by Anil Kapoor. When an assassination attempt threatens his father’s life, Ranvijay spirals into a brutal path of revenge, blurring the line between love, obsession and destruction.

The film also stars Bobby Deol as a chilling antagonist, with Rashmika Mandanna and Triptii Dimri in pivotal roles. Despite fierce debate around its themes, Animal became a global box office juggernaut, crossing the ₹900 crore mark worldwide and securing its place among Indian cinema’s highest-grossing films.

With Animal Park already in development, it’s clear that Ranbir Kapoor is no longer playing safe and the era of predictable lover-boy roles may truly be behind him.