‘I always had to work hard…’: Ranbir Kapoor opens up about dealing with pressure despite being privileged; how gratitude can coexist with the need to prove oneself

Actor Ranbir Kapoor recently reflected on his privilege and challenges during a talk at Celebrate Cinema 2025, held at filmmaker Subhash Ghai’s Whistling Woods Institute. Speaking at a session titled Tribute to Legendary Filmmakers Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt, he offered an honest perspective on what it means to come from a film family while still trying to prove oneself.

He admitted, “I’m a product of nepotism and I got it very easy in my life, but I always had to work hard because I realised that I come from a family like this and if I don’t have an individualistic approach and if I don’t make a name for myself, I’ll not succeed in the film industry.”

Acknowledging both privilege and pressure, he added, “You guys celebrate a lot of the successes of my family, but there are a lot of failures also, and as much as you learn from the successes, you also learn from the failures.”

Ranbir further said, “What do I feel about being born in this family? For me, it was like any other normal family; I didn’t know any better. There used to be a lot of arguments, but not of the domestic kind. They would debate over a scene or the correct lyrics of a song.”

Neha Parashar, clinical psychologist, Mindtalk, tells indianexpress.com, “Balancing gratitude with the need to establish one’s own identity begins with self-awareness. Acknowledging privilege does not diminish personal effort; it actually grounds it. The key is to internalise that gratitude is not guilt; it is recognition.”

She adds that when individuals consciously separate what they’ve inherited from what they’ve earned, they can approach their goals with authenticity rather than defensiveness. Reflective practices like journaling or therapy help maintain this clarity, ensuring that success feels both personally meaningful and ethically rooted.

Parashar notes that constant comparison can lead to “a fragile sense of self, performance anxiety, and even imposter feelings,” particularly when expectations are public or generational. The pressure to live up to a legacy can blur the line between personal ambition and inherited obligation.

To preserve self-identity, Parashar mentions that it’s important to “build a life narrative that highlights individual values and definitions of success rather than inherited benchmarks.” Therapy, mentorship outside the family circle, and setting intrinsic goals — goals that feel personally rewarding rather than socially validated — can help one stay emotionally anchored.

Parashar states, “Yes, resilience is not exclusive to adversity; it can also grow from responsibility and self-discipline. People born into privilege can cultivate resilience by consciously stepping outside comfort zones, embracing discomfort, and facing constructive failure.”

The motivation may not stem from survival, she explains, but it can emerge from purpose — from wanting to contribute meaningfully or redefine inherited success. Resilience develops when challenges are faced rather than avoided, regardless of where one starts. The key lies in choosing growth over convenience, and purpose over validation.