In a recent conversation, Imran Khan opened up about his relationship with Ranbir Kapoor, putting to rest long-standing rumours of a rift between the two. Imran, who recently made a comeback with the film Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, clarified that the perceived distance between them was more a result of industry dynamics and media narratives than any personal animosity.
Speaking in an interview with News 18, Imran shared that he and Ranbir are just a few months apart in age. However, despite being contemporaries, they never really knew each other on a personal level. He explained that they mainly interacted as young actors who had newly joined the film industry.
Imran pointed out that external narratives often play a big role in how relationships are perceived and developed. He expressed, “The thing is, there’s a certain amount of personal interactions that happen and much more of external narrative building that you aren’t really involved in or have a hand in.” He further revealed that these outside stories impacted their equation, saying, “You hear something, you read something. Because of the way that played out even within the media narratives, it perhaps hindered the ability of developing any kind of a truthful relationship.”
Imran mentioned that because they usually met within the context of the industry, the scope of any relationship was always limited. He also mentioned a weird aspect of the movie business, saying, “I guess it’s a weird and not so much considered facet of the business that male actors tend to meet each other less.” He explained that while actors spend months working with different actresses on sets, it is less common for male actors to do films together, leaving them with fewer opportunities to bond with colleagues in the same age bracket.
When asked if he viewed Ranbir as a competitor, Imran admitted he has been away from the screen for a while and hasn’t seen Ranbir’s recent work like Animal. However, he praised Ranbir’s craft, saying, “I’ve always considered him to be a tremendously strong actor.” He described Ranbir as a thinking cinema person with a strong instinct for acting and cinema. Imran Khan recently returned to the big screen with a special appearance in Vir Das’s Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, which hit theatres on January 16, 2026.
Also Read: Exclusive: When Imran Khan Opened Up On Being Compared To Ranbir Kapoor Early In His Career
