Veteran actor Anil Kapoor recently shared a candid moment involving Ranbir Kapoor during the filming of Animal, shedding light on the emotional aftermath of Shamshera’s box office failure. Speaking at the FICCI Frames 2025 event, Kapoor recounted how Ranbir Kapoor appeared visibly low-spirited on set following the release of Shamshera, which had underperformed both critically and commercially.
According to Kapoor, Ranbir approached him and said, “Sab mujhe dekh rahe hain… itni badi flop di hai maine” (“Everyone is looking at me… I’ve delivered such a big flop”). In response, Anil Kapoor offered words of encouragement, telling him, “Ek accha shot dete hai. Kal tak sab bhool jaayenge” (“Let’s give a good shot. By tomorrow, everyone will forget”).
Kapoor emphasized the importance of blocking out external noise and focusing on honest work. Drawing from his own experience of over 45 years in the industry, he advised younger actors not to let criticism or failure affect their morale. “Success and failure are not in your hands,” he said. “Once you accept what happened and continue working sincerely, everything else fades away.”
The conversation took place during a photoshoot for Animal, and Kapoor noted that by the next day, Ranbir was back to collaborating enthusiastically with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga and the rest of the team. Kapoor’s reassurance proved timely, as Animal went on to become a massive success, grossing ₹553 crore domestically and over ₹915 crore worldwide, effectively overshadowing the disappointment of Shamshera, which had only managed ₹40 crore in India.
Kapoor’s reflections offered a rare glimpse into the emotional resilience required in the film industry and highlighted the camaraderie between actors navigating the highs and lows of their careers.
