In a fascinating revelation that bridges Indian cinema with the global stage, acclaimed filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, best known for directing Dune and Arrival, recently shared that Raajneeti was the first Hindi film he ever watched. The political drama, directed by Prakash Jha and inspired by the epic Mahabharata, left a lasting impression on the visionary director, especially the performance of Ranbir Kapoor.
Villeneuve, in conversation with film curator Deepti D’Cunha, recalled the moment from 2010 during the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, where he had traveled for the premiere of his film Incendies. Deepti shared a nostalgic post on X (formerly Twitter), revealing that during a deep chat with Villeneuve, he had enthusiastically brought up Raajneeti, a film he had just seen and was thoroughly intrigued by.
What stood out to him, even among a heavyweight cast that included Ajay Devgn, Nana Patekar, Arjun Rampal, Katrina Kaif, Manoj Bajpayee, and Naseeruddin Shah, was Ranbir Kapoor. Villeneuve described Kapoor as “a wonderful actor who stood out in an ensemble filled with towering talent.” That moment, as Deepti recalls, was not just a cultural crossover but a recognition of Indian cinema’s growing influence and its quietly magnetic performers.
Released on June 4, 2010, Raajneeti was a powerful film laced with political ambition, betrayal, and family dynamics. Ranbir Kapoor’s nuanced portrayal of a reluctant heir drawn into a brutal political battlefield showcased a new dimension of his acting prowess, intense, understated, and deeply compelling.
Denis Villeneuve, who is now helming some of Hollywood’s most anticipated sci-fi epics, including the upcoming Dune: Messiah (slated for a 2026 release with Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Florence Pugh), recognizes, Ranbir Kapoor from a film like Raajneeti is not just a compliment, it’s a cultural moment. It signals how Indian talent is increasingly making its presence felt on the global map, quietly but impactfully.
And when it comes to Ranbir Kapoor, that recognition might just be the beginning. In an earlier statement, Shah Rukh Khan once remarked, “I am the last of the superstars.” But if there’s anyone who could carry that torch forward, with the same effortless charm, magnetic screen presence, and acting range, it’s Ranbir.
With his upcoming film slate including Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal Park (sequel to the blockbuster Animal), and Love and War with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Ranbir Kapoor is at the cusp of not just national but international stardom. If the admiration from a filmmaker like Denis Villeneuve is anything to go by, Ranbir isn’t just India’s future, he’s a global star in the making.
– Prachi Mehta
