
Apart from being in the spotlight since he was a child due to his father, Ranbir Kapoor has gained a separate fan base by proving that his acting skills are what make him Ranbir Kapoor! As his beloved lady love Alia Bhatt mentioned, he is also an undeniable secret romantic who keeps her on her toes with loving gestures!
Ranbir Kapoor has undoubtedly made some successful films, particularly Shamsheera and Bhramastra, which are currently gaining popularity. Aside from these two highly anticipated films, we have selected some of the best films that will showcase his best side as an actor.
Top 10 Remarkable Movies by Ranbir Kapoor!
1. Barfi
Netflix
Iss dil ka main, Ab kya karoon! Don't we all relate to this song from Barfi?
Stealing your hearts is Barfi, a hearing impaired man who falls in love with Shruti, but she marries someone else and later discovers that Barfi is now in love with an autistic girl! After discovering this, Shurthi begins to reflect on her own marriage and she wishes to meet Barfi. What you should not miss is Priyanka Chopra's impeccable acting as Jhilmil, an autistic girl, and she does every bit of justice to the role!
2. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Prime Video
Holi, or no Holi, Balam Pichkari lives in our minds, rent free!
One thing other than the storyline about this next movie is definitely the songs.Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani stars Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone,who have starkly different personalities but they meet on a trekking trip where Naina falls in love with Kabir. But Kabir tends to drift away because he is afraid of commitment. We have also been Kabir in our lives at one point or are we still?
3. Sanju
Disney+ Hotstar
Sanjay Dutt is more than just an actor. He is Legend!
And no one else will ever be like him. However no one wanted this biopic on Sanju Baba, we needed it!
Ranbir Kapoor gives an outstanding performance as Sanjay Dutt, depicting his various struggles not only in Bollywood but also in his personal life. It became one of the highest-grossing films in Bollywood, and if you are a true fan of Sanjay Dutt, you must watch this right away on Disney+ Hotstar!!
4. Brahmastra
Disney+ Hotstar
Okay, let's not use this as a platform to discuss love storiyaan, but we feel you!
Brahmastra is one of the most anticipated films, set to be released on September 9th, 2022 and starring Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, and other movie stars who are extremely popular. This film is also directed by Ayan Mukerji and of course a high-budget film. The film is based on Astrauniverse.
5. Rockstar
Zee5
Rockstar songs > the entire world! There we said it!
The amount of calmness provided by these movie songs is unmatched, and they were composed by none other than A. R. Rahman. The plot revolves around Janardan, a college student who wishes to awaken the musician within him. He seems to achieve this goal after experiencing heartbreak which also leads to a path of insanity. Ranbir Kapoor and Nargis Fakhri do an excellent job of bringing these characters to life.
6. Bachna Ae Haseeno
Prime Video
Talk about a triple threat, and Bachna Ae Haseeno is at the top of the list!
Raj, like any other youngster, enjoys traveling around the world. On his quest to see the world, he is drawn to two women whom he cannot resist! But when he returns, he meets Gayatri, played by Deepika Padukone, and they both begin to grow closer in time. He feels at ease with Gayatri, but he is concerned that his previous relationships with the other two girls will come back to haunt him.
7. Roy
Disney+ Hotstar
Bahut Ajeeb Ho tum! No, not you, but this is one of the most famous lines from the film Roy!
The plot revolves around Kabir, a casanova film maker who meets a London-based director named Ayesha and falls in love with her right away. That's one aspect of the not-so-ajeeb story XD. The other part of the story is that Roy is a mysterious international art thief who arrives in a foreign country to steal an expensive painting but only discovers a sudden twist to it.
8. Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani
Prime Video
As the name implies, love stories have their own unique spin on them. Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, ironically are playing the lead roles in the film which throws a shadow on their real life ghazab kahani maybe? Our next suggestion is based on Prem, who has feelings for Jenny, who appears to already have a boyfriend named Rahul. But, like any other person who has faced one side of love, Prem agrees to assist her in marrying Rahul, and the rest is history.
9. Shamshera
Prime Video
Following that, we have another highly anticipated film, Shamshera. Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Vaani Kapoor, and many other celebrities. The film is scheduled to be released on July 22nd 2022, so mark your calendars. Ranbir Kapoor plays dual characters in the film and that's all we have for now in the trailers; We don't want to ruin the suspense, so tune in to watch Shamsheera!
10. Tamasha
Zee5
Tamasha is the next recommendation we have for you. This Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone starrer film is based on Ved and Tara who are on a vacation in Corsica and eventually fall in love with each other. But they retain their true identities as secrets. When Tara returns to Delhi she bumps into Ved and realizes that Ved has changed and is still searching for his true self.
2. Early Career and Breakthrough
- Saawariya (2007): Mixed reception but a promising debut
- Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008): Romantic hero beginnings
- Noting his acting lineage (Kapoor family) and expectations
3. Honorable Mentions
- Tamasha (if not ranked above) – psychological and emotional depth
- Raajneeti (2010) – ensemble political drama
- Jagga Jasoos (2017) – ambitious musical adventure, mixed reactions
- Shamshera (2022) – attempt at period action
4. Ranbir Kapoor’s Acting Style and Legacy
Ranbir Kapoor is often described as one of the most emotionally intelligent actors of his generation. His performances are marked by a quiet intensity and the ability to portray complex inner conflict with minimal dialogue. Whether he’s playing a heartbroken musician in Rockstar or a free-spirited romantic in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, there’s always a layer of emotional vulnerability that makes his characters feel real and deeply relatable.
What makes Ranbir stand out is his willingness to walk the line between commercial cinema and more introspective, unconventional storytelling. He’s as comfortable in a masala entertainer as he is in an offbeat narrative like Tamasha or Rocket Singh. This balance has allowed him to earn both mass popularity and critical respect—something not every mainstream actor in Bollywood achieves.
When compared to his contemporaries like Ranveer Singh, Varun Dhawan, or Shahid Kapoor, Ranbir’s approach is markedly more internalized. While others lean into charisma, flamboyance, or high-energy roles, Ranbir often gravitates toward characters who are flawed, conflicted, or emotionally broken. He prefers subtlety over spectacle, introspection over intensity. This sets him apart in an industry that often rewards loud, larger-than-life performances.
Adding to this narrative is the weight of the Kapoor legacy. As the son of Rishi Kapoor and part of Bollywood’s first family, expectations were sky-high from the start. But rather than resting on that legacy, Ranbir has steadily carved out his own identity—one based on thoughtful role selection and a clear refusal to be typecast. He’s one of the few actors who can headline a franchise like Brahmāstra while also being critically applauded for nuanced roles in films like Barfi! and Sanju.
In many ways, Ranbir Kapoor represents the modern Hindi film hero—layered, conflicted, and always evolving.
5. Upcoming Projects of Ranbir Kapoor
Following the massive success and critical buzz around Animal (2023), Ranbir Kapoor’s career has entered an exciting new phase. The film not only showed his ability to take on dark, intense roles, but also opened the door to more action-heavy, psychologically layered characters. It marked a noticeable shift from the romantic-hero image that defined much of his early work.
As of now, Ranbir has been rumored to be attached to multiple high-profile projects, though official announcements remain limited. One of the most talked-about upcoming ventures is Animal Park, the sequel to Animal, which is expected to explore the duality of his character in even darker tones. There’s also speculation about collaborations with leading directors such as Sandeep Reddy Vanga, Luv Ranjan, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, indicating a strong demand for his talent across genres.
Additionally, the second and third parts of the Brahmāstra trilogy remain in development, where Ranbir reprises his role as Shiva. Given the franchise potential and scale of the project, these installments are highly anticipated and could define his presence in big-budget fantasy cinema.
Post-Animal, there’s a clear sense that Ranbir is embracing more experimental, risk-taking roles. Audiences and critics alike are watching his choices closely. Will he lean further into action-thrillers? Will he return to the soulful romantic roles that made him a star? Or will he surprise us all with a radically different path? Whatever direction he chooses, the expectations are immense—but so is the confidence in his ability to deliver.
With each new film, Ranbir Kapoor is proving that he’s not just a product of legacy, but a powerful actor redefining it on his own terms.
Ranbir Kapoor has undoubtedly made an identity for himself in the movie industry. There are many stars who actually love the way Ranbir gives his full dedication to making a character work. Keeping the hype on Alia Bhatt low for a while, we hope you watch these amazing movies by Ranbir Kapoor and binge through a slow weekend!
FAQs
1. Which is Ranbir Kapoor's best movie?
If you ask us, we would pick Barfi! Ranbir Kapoor has played the role of a hearing impaired man and brings the character to life! The chemistry between him and Priyanka Chopra along with Ileana’s presence is another reason why we pick this as one of Ranbir Kapoor’s top movies.
2. How many movies has Ranbir Kapoor done?
Ranbir Kapoor has at least done 27+ movies in Bollywood out of which we have curated the best 10 movies, do give them a watch!
3. Which was Ranbir Kapoor’s first movie?
Ranbir Kapoor’s debut movie was Saawariya opposite Sonam Kapoor which was released in 2007.
4. Which is Ranbir Kapoor’s highest rated movie?
Sanju is by far one of Ranbir Kapoor’s best movies, which is a biopic of Sanjay Dutt which was released in 2018. The film made a whooping 34.75 cr!