Ranbir Kapoor Was A 'Natural', Katrina Kaif Learnt Her Lines In 40 Days For Rajneeti: Prakash Jha
Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif's standout roles in Raajneeti remain unforgettable. Prakash Jha and Anjum Rajabali recall their dedication and how they brought the film to life.
Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif's performances in Raajneeti remain etched in fans' memory, with both actors proving their mettle in one of the most ambitious political dramas of the time. While Ranbir stunned with his silence and subtlety, Katrina surprised everyone with her intense preparation and commitment to the role.
Raajneeti was released in 2010 and the team behind the film — director Prakash Jha and screenwriter Anjum Rajabali — recently revisited its journey, sharing how the story wasn't intended as a Mahabharata adaptation at first in a chat with SCREEN.
'Unlike Gangaajal (2003) or Apaharan (2004), Raajneeti didn't happen after witnessing a specific incident. It was a broader socio-political drama based on reality, but resonating with the Mahabharata. The characters are all the same everywhere, as they were back in the epic," Jha said.
Rajabali recalled when Jha told him they'd found their Arjuna — and it was Ranbir Kapoor. 'Who, Rishi Kapoor's son? That's how I knew of him," Rajabali said, noting that Bhansali's Saawariya hadn't even released yet. 'Have you seen it? Can he perform?" 'I haven't, but my instinct says he can." 'I trusted his instincts, but I had my doubts," reveals Rajabali.
But all doubts vanished once Rajabali visited the set in Bhopal. Jha showed him a scene where Ranbir sits silently, reacting to breaking news about his father's death and brother's arrest.
'That boy was speaking volumes with his silence. There was no prep. He's an intuitive actor, a complete natural. I was completely convinced. Ranbir had very few lines, but boy, did he leave an impact! He's the best actor we've had in more than a decade now," said Rajabali.
If Ranbir left a lasting impression, Katrina Kaif's transformation impressed just as much. Rajabali shared how her character was loosely inspired by Draupadi, though the original elements from the epic were adapted to fit a modern setting.
He initially had concerns about Katrina handling the Hindi-heavy script. 'Once again, Prakash was convinced she'd deliver," he noted.
Jha stood by his casting choice and praised her work ethic. 'Katrina is a very hardworking actor. She worked with so much dedication. She learnt her lines for 30-40 days so she could deliver them confidently," he said.
Rajabali added that while her accent worried him during filming, the dubbing sessions changed his mind. 'The amount of effort that the girl put in… she managed to deliver word to word in near-perfect diction," he said.
Fifteen years later, Raajneeti continues to be a turning point in both Ranbir and Katrina's careers — a film that challenged their limits and brought out performances that still resonate.
First Published:
June 04, 2025, 09:44 IST
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