Ranbir Kapoor To NDTV On Paparazzi: "Wish I Could Hold On To Personal Life But It's OK"

Ranbir Kapoor, the most private of stars, and wife Alia Bhatt are expecting their first child. The 39-year-old actor has been promoting his new film Shamshera in the last few weeks and has had to deal with the paparazzi congratulating him and questioning him on impending fatherhood. Speaking to NDTV, Ranbir said he's been prepared for media attention since he grew up with it - the actor is the son of Rishi and Neetu Kapoor and counts various Kapoors among his close relatives. Ranbir said he wishes he could keep part of life off-limits from the public but understands that the attention comes with the job.

"I was prepared for this the day I was born, I have seen this culture all along, there was just no paparazzi back in the days but you get used to it. You have to shut it off, it's part and parcel of the job. What's important is the work, what's important is the films that you give. This is all the in-betweens. If I have it I should be grateful that people are interested in my life," Ranbir Kapoor told NDTV.

"If I don't have all this tomorrow, because of my personality I will be happy that I don't have the attention. But every actor will be lying if they say they don't enjoy the attention. You work so hard to get popular then when you get popular you go and hide - it's ironic. I wish I could hold on to some personal life of mine and just keep it private but it's okay," he added.

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt married on April 14 after dating for several years. Alia has been away filming her Hollywood debut Heart Of Stone and it's been Ranbir, officially a social media abstainer, who has been at the sharp end of paparazzi clamour. "Tu chacha ban gaya, tu mama ban gaya (you have become uncles)," he responded to a group of lensmen who congratulated him on becoming a "Dad-to-be" recently.

The paparazzi were also present when Ranbir showed up at the airport to pick up Alia when she flew home to Mumbai earlier this month. Ranbir had meant to surprise Alia - "I was prepared for it, it's fine," he told NDTV.

Shamshera, Ranbir Kapoor's first release since 2018's Sanju, also stars Vaani Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt. It releases on July 22.