Anurag Basu once confessed Ranbir Kapoor had raised his standards, making it hard to work with other actors: 'They will feel bad, but...'

Time of India

14 hours ago

Filmmaker
once opened up about how working with
has left a lasting impact on him—both creatively and professionally. From Barfi! to Jagga Jasoos, he reflected on balancing creative vision with practical filmmaking and protecting producers in a tough industry.
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In an interview with Galatta Plus, Basu stated that working with Ranbir elevated his standards. He confessed that after collaborating with Ranbir, he found it hard to enjoy working with other actors, calling it an honest admission even if it might upset some.
Planning films to protect producers
While promoting Metro in Dino, the director explained that he plans his films carefully to ensure producers do not face losses. He revealed that he always works within a defined budget so that none of his producers have reasons to complain.
Basu added that Metro was made on a modest budget, being an ensemble film without big stars, and emphasized that he is very conscious of costs given the ruthlessness of the industry.
The magic of Barfi!
The duo first teamed up for Barfi! (2012), a romantic comedy-drama that earned critical acclaim and became a box office hit. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Barfi, a mute and deaf man, alongside
and Ileana D'Cruz. Praised for its heartfelt performances, soulful music, and poetic storytelling, Barfi! won multiple awards and remains one of the most memorable films of the decade.
Jagga Jasoos
Basu reflected on his 2017 musical Jagga Jasoos, which took around four years to make but failed to recover its reported Rs 130 crore budget. He noted that the team had prioritized the film's creative vision over financial considerations.
He also recalled that while Jagga Jasoos didn't make much money, the team remained committed to the project. He explained that Ranbir Kapoor, he himself, and others took reduced fees out of passion for the film, ensuring that the producer did not face financial loss, as it was a project driven by their vision rather than monetary gain.
Jagga Jasoos had sparked strong reactions upon release, including public criticism from
, who held Basu responsible for the film's failure.