Ranbir Kapoor made his debut with the 2007 release Saawariya. Though the film failed to make a mark at the box office, Ranbir’s performance was appreciated a lot.
In these 13 years, the actor has starred in many films and proved his mettle as an actor as well as a bankable star.
Today, Ranbir celebrates his 38th birthday, so let’s look at the list of top five performances of the actor…
Wake Up Sid
In 2009, Ranbir Kapoor starred in Dharma Productions’ Wake Up Sid which was directed by Ayan Mukerji. The movie was Ranbir’s first commercial hit and the actor surely gave a wonderful performance in it. The film was about a young guy who comes to know about his strength when he starts staying away from his family.
Rockstar
Ranbir Kapoor’s character Jordan from the film Rockstar is one of the most loved characters the actor has played on the big screen. Directed by Imtiaz Ali, the movie was about a singer who is at the peak of his career, but his failed love life becomes a hurdle for him. The actor won Filmfare Award for Best Actor as well as Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor.
Barfi
One of the toughest roles Ranbir Kapoor has played on the big screen is of Barfi. The movie was directed by Anurag Basu and it told the story of a deaf and mute guy named Barfi. Ranbir was simply excellent in the film and won the Filmfare Best Actor Award for his performance in it.
Tamasha
After Rockstar, Ranbir Kapoor once again collaborated with Imtiaz Ali for the film Tamasha. Ali is known for writing complex characters and Ranbir’s character Ved in Tamasha was not an exception. The actor surely gave a fantastic performance in the movie and it is undoubtedly one of the most underrated performances of Ranbir.
Sanju
Last we have Sanju on the list. Playing a real-life character that too who is alive is surely not an easy task, but Ranbir played the role of Sanjay Dutt on the big screen amazingly. Ranbir went deep into the skin of the character and once again impressed everyone with his performance. He won Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance in the movie.
Forum brings UK and Chinese film professionals together to explore collaborations.
Emerging British-Asian talent gain mentorship and international exposure.
Small-scale dramas, kids’ shows, and adapting popular formats were the projects everyone was talking about.
Telling stories that feel real to their culture, yet can connect with anyone, is what makes them work worldwide.
Meeting three times a year keeps the UK and China talking, creating opportunities that last beyond one event.
The theatre was packed for the Third Shanghai–London Screen Industry Forum. Between panels and workshops, filmmakers, producers and executives discussed ideas and business cards and it felt more than just a summit. British-Asian filmmakers were meeting and greeting the Chinese industry in an attempt to explore genuine possibilities of working in China’s film market.
UK China film collaborations take off as Third Shanghai London Forum connects British Asian filmmakers with Chinese studios Instagram/ukchinafilm
What makes the forum important for British-Asian filmmakers?
For filmmakers whose films explore identity and belonging, this is a chance to show their work on an international stage, meet Chinese directors, talk co-productions and break cultural walls that normally feel unscalable. “It’s invaluable,” Abid Khan said after a panel, “because you can’t create globally if you don’t talk globally.”
And it’s not just established names. Young filmmakers were all around, pitching ideas and learning on the go. The forum gave them a chance to get noticed with mentoring, workshops, and live pitch sessions.
Which projects are catching international attention?
Micro-dramas are trending. Roy Lu of Linmon International says vertical content for apps is “where it’s at.” They’ve done US, Canada, Australia and next stop, Europe. YouTube is back in focus too, thanks to Rosemary Reed of POW TV Studios. Short attention spans and three-minute hits, she’s ready.
Children’s and sports shows are another hotspot. Jiella Esmat of 8Lions is developing Touch Grass, a football-themed children’s show. The logic is simple: sports and kids content unite families, like global glue.
Then there’s format adaptation. Lu also talked about Nothing But 30, a Chinese series with 7 billion streams. The plan is for an english version in London. Not a straight translation, but a cultural transformation. “‘30’ in London isn’t just words,” Lu says. “It’s a new story.”
Jason Zhang of Stellar Pictures says international audiences respond when culture isn’t just a background prop. Lanterns, flowers, rituals, they’re part of the plot. Cedric Behrel from Trinity CineAsia adds: you need context. Western audiences don’t know Journey to the West, so co-production helps them understand without diluting the story.
Economic sense matters too. Roy Lu stresses: pick your market, make it financially viable. Esmat likens ideal co-productions to a marriage: “Multicultural teams naturally think about what works globally and what doesn’t.”
The UK-China Film Collab’s Future Talent Programme is taking on eight students or recent grads this year. They’re getting the backstage access to international filmmaking that few ever see, including mentorship, festival organising and hands-on experience. Alumni are landing real jobs: accredited festival journalists, Beijing producers, curators at The National Gallery.
Adrian Wootton OBE reminded everyone: “We exist through partnerships, networks, and collaboration.” Yin Xin from Shanghai Media Group noted that tri-annual gathering: London, Shanghai, Hong Kong create an “intensive concentration” of ideas.
Actor-director Zhang Luyi said it best: cultural exchange isn’t telling your story to someone, it’s creating stories together.
The Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum is no longer just a talking shop. It’s a launchpad, a bridge. And for British-Asian filmmakers and emerging talent, it’s a chance to turn ideas into reality.
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