Veteran actor, writer and lyricist Piyush Mishra has shared candid and refreshing insights about working with Ranbir Kapoor, calling the actor completely detached from the weight of his iconic family background. In a recent conversation with The Lallantop, Mishra said Ranbir doesn’t carry “not even 1%” of the Kapoor legacy, despite belonging to one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated dynasties.

According to Mishra, while many actors are shaped by discipline, pressure, or lineage, Ranbir stands out for being “light” and “free.” He recalled his experience of working with Ranbir in films like Rockstar and Tamasha, noting that the actor surprised him from day one. Though Ranbir is deeply sincere while the camera is rolling, the moment a shot is done, he becomes completely relaxed and unaffected by stardom.

“Arre, don’t even ask — that guy is something else,” Mishra laughed, adding his now-viral remark, “Itna nanga besharam aadmi maine aaj tak nahi dekha!” He explained that Ranbir’s carefree nature has nothing to do with arrogance, but rather with how unburdened he is by his lineage. “He comes from such a long legacy — his father, grandfather, great-grandfather, all the way to Prithviraj Kapoor — but none of it weighs on him. Not even 1%,” Mishra said.

Speaking further, Mishra contrasted Ranbir with others who consciously or unconsciously carry the expectations of their family name. In Ranbir’s case, however, Mishra felt the actor enters and exits his roles without letting his surname define him once the camera stops rolling.

During the same interaction, Piyush Mishra also spoke emotionally about late actor Irrfan Khan, with whom he worked in Haasil. He admitted that the loss still hurts deeply. “He left too soon, yaar. It hurts a lot… he was such a great actor,” Mishra said.

Clarifying their bond, Mishra added that while he and Irrfan were not very close friends, there was immense mutual respect. “We weren’t close like he was with Tigmanshu Dhulia or Vishal Bhardwaj, but we acknowledged each other’s work. That’s where a bond formed,” he shared. Mishra also remembered hearing about Irrfan’s warmth as a human being and prayed for peace for his soul, adding that he hopes Irrfan’s sons become great actors.

Irrfan Khan passed away on April 29, 2020, in Mumbai. He died due to complications from colitis after a prolonged battle with a rare neuroendocrine tumor diagnosed in 2018.

Meanwhile, Ranbir Kapoor will next be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming film Love & War, starring alongside his wife Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. The film is currently under production.