He has this relaxed casual vibe about himself when you meet him, far from what an actor who has had a recent release would seem like. Clearly, box-office collections and critical acclaim arethe last things on actor Ranbir Kapoor’s mind. “I have never taken failure to heart or success to head. The process is more important. I have lived with that principle,” says the actor, who gets candid on matters of the heart as well...

Did you expect the kind of reaction your recent film garnered? We didn’t expect anything. We had no reference when we made the film, we just followed our hearts. We knew we were getting into a territory that wasn’t very acceptable. We never made the film for box-office collections. We only wanted the film to get its respect and find its audience. Whether the critics like it or not, is not in my hands. I have never taken failure to heart or success to head. The process is more important. I have lived with that principle.

As an actor, have you set yourself certain goals in life? I don’t really see the goal. I want to act, direct and produce. I want to dedicate my entire life to movies. If I can do that, for each day of my life, my life would be successful. An actor will at most have five super hits in his 25-year-old career. I want to, at least, have 15 successful films in my career.

So what made you take up acting as a profession? I was very mediocre in school, in fact below average in studies, sports and dramatics. I was very shy and not a confident kid. When you start growing older and get more responsible and think about what you want to do with your life, it happens.

So you consider yourself a good actor? I am a damn good actor; I really have that much of arrogance to say that. I don’t consider myself good-looking, sexy, heart throb material or any of that. But I know as far as acting is concerned, I am talented. I have that much of faith in my talent.

How do you react to the female adulation around you? For me, it all looks like there is some drama happening around me. People screaming my name, tearing my clothes makes me wonder ‘Is this for real?’ Every time I sign an autograph, as much as it makes the other person happy, it makes me happy as well. When somebody doesn’t take my autograph or picture, I feel bad. I want to be important. I want the entire world to know me and see me.

Did you imagine a life like this at 29? I thought this is what my life would be at 24, so well, I am late. My grandfather directed, produced and acted in a film when he was 19 or 20. So did you have a cut-off age limit for marriage as well? Marriage and direction is the same thing. It has to come naturally. You can’t plan it and you can’t do it for the wrong reason. I used to think marriage should happen within a particular age, but with time I realised that age doesn’t matter. If you are 29 or 49, it doesn’t matter as long as right person comes along.

Are you a romantic person? I am a romantic person, but not in the Archies gallery or the Hallmark kind of romance. I believe it has to be just friendship with the person you love and being able to be yourself  to give more than you expect and be happy.