To mark Ranbir Kapoor’s 43rd birthday, let us acknowledge his characters that showed us love is not only about fairy tales, but also about self-discovery.
On Ranbir Kapoor’s birthday, we are reminded of something remarkable: his power to make us love, not only with his characters, but with new and entirely different definitions of what is possible under this love word.
In nine unforgettable movies of this blog created by our team at Wedding Affair, Ranbir Kapoor has coloured love in hues that we never knew were possible, breaking our assumptions and opening our hearts.
Table of Contents:
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Saawariya (2007): Love as Pure Devotion
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Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani (2009): Love as Innocent Comedy
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Anjaana Anjaani (2010): Love as Shared Darkness
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Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013): Love as Growth and Timing
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Tamasha (2015): Love as Self-Discovery
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Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016): Love as Beautiful Pain
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Brahmāstra (2022): Love as Cosmic Force
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Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (2023): Love as Modern Complexity
Saawariya (2007): Love as Pure Devotion
In his first outing, Ranbir Kapoor introduced us to Ranbir Raj, a fantasist whose love defied all logic and reciprocity. Saawariya showed us the near-religious nature of love, where loving is more necessary than being loved. His character loved Sakina with such poignant intensity that even her love for another man could not dilute his love. In this one, Ranbir reinterpreted love as unconditional, selfless, and pitiably romantic, letting us know that sometimes loving someone is about releasing them, even when it shatters you.
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Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani (2009): Love as Innocent Comedy
Prem’s hapless, innocent take on love in APKGK let us know that romance doesn’t necessarily have to be brooding or over-the-top. His portrayal reimagined love as playful, innocent, and wonderfully messy. Prem’s affection for Jenny (Katrina Kaif) was innocent in its sincerity as it was unadulterated by manipulation, pretence, or ulterior designs. With him, Ranbir showed us that at times the greatest love tales are those of the simplest nature, where one is in love as one laughs softly, bungles, and is willing to be made a fool of by someone you love.
Anjaana Anjaani (2010): Love as Shared Darkness
As the deaf and mute Barfi, Ranbir taught us that the deepest expressions of love sometimes are not needed in words. His romance with Jhilmil (Priyanka Chopra) proved that a real connection finds a way to build bridges across physical boundaries and the constraints of society. Barfi spoke through actions, gazes, and pure emotional presence. This character defined love as a global language—one that neither requires perfect hearing, speech, nor accepted understanding to play the most exquisite symphony of hearts.
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013): Love as Growth and Timing
Bunny’s path in YJHD provided us with maybe the most realistic definition of love today—one that accepts ambition, aspirations, and individual growth. His affair with Naina (Deepika Padukone) reminded us that love isn’t always a matter of having to decide between your dreams and your heart; sometimes it’s about somebody being there who makes you the best version of yourself. Bunny redefined love as a growth partnership, depicting how the right individual will make you pursue your dreams, not abandon them.
Tamasha (2015): Love as Self-Discovery
Tamasha’s Ved journey with Tara (Deepika Padukone) depicted love as a mirror of self-discovery. Tara loved Ved not for the kind of person that society wanted him to be, but for the real individual she saw hiding behind his conformist façade. Their affair proved that the most life-changing love is the kind that recognises your real self and never lets you for a second settle for anything but. Ved rewrote the definition of love as acceptance—the bravery to love someone’s true self and the resilience to insist on reciprocation.
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016): Love as Beautiful Pain
Ayan’s unrequited love for Alizeh (Anushka Sharma) in ADHM allowed us to accept the most painful reality of love, that not every love story will have a happy ending, and that’s fine. His character taught us that love doesn’t always have to be mutual to be significant. Ayan redefined love as the celebration of feeling deeply, even if those feelings don’t come back. He instilled in us that the pain of love that isn’t returned isn’t failure but proof of our ability to feel deeply.
Brahmāstra (2022): Love as Cosmic Force
In Brahmāstra, Shiva’s love for Isha (Alia Bhatt) transcended mortality to become cosmic and mystical. His character exemplified love as an actual superpower, a power that could awaken latent powers and bond souls across time. Shiva redefined love as a power of nature, something more than physical, and that can be pure energy. With this romantic fantasy, Ranbir introduced love as destiny, soul connection, and the greatest source of strength in the presence of darkness.
Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (2023): Love as Modern Complexity
On his latest romance date, Mickey’s courtship with Tinni (Shraddha Kapoor) embodied the complications of contemporary love, complete with relationship coaches, dating apps, and modern-day conundrums. Mickey redefined love in the digital era, demonstrating how classic romance evolves with current situations. His character traversed the labyrinth of modern relationships but held onto the traditional essence of commitment and integrity. It was through Mickey that Ranbir Kapoor proved, even in our over-connected, complex world, true love still manages to flower.
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All these characters share what ties them together—Ranbir Kapoor’s uniform imagining of love as a genuine experience, that is ragged, flawed, and wonderfully human. Saawariya’s romance, Barfi’s silence, Bunny’s development, Ved’s self-realisation, or Ayan’s embracing pain, each character engages love with unvarnished truthfulness. Here’s to the gentleman who showed us love stories don’t necessarily need to conclude with “happily ever after” to be real. Occasionally, they conclude with “thank you for showing me who I am.”
Happy Birthday, Ranbir Kapoor. Thanks for believing in love, no matter how difficult it is!
