Imran Khan opens up about comparisons to Ranbir Kapoor amid 'Ramayana' teaser drop: 'Cinema isn’t a competitive sport'

Following a decade-long hiatus, Imran Khan officially returned to theatres with 'Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos' in January this year. Best known for his boy-next-door charm in cult classics like 'Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na', the actor recently opened up in an interview and addressed the comparisons to Ranbir Kapoor. Khan noted that such rivalries often reduce cinema to a competitive sport, whereas he prioritizes emotional storytelling over box office.

Imran Khan opens up on comparisons to Ranbir Kapoor

In a recent appearance on 'The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra' Season 3, Imran Khan opened up about the culture of rivalry and the constant comparisons in his early career, most notably with 'Ramayana' star Ranbir Kapoor.




Bollywood is now ruled by box office numbers but Khan remains unfazed by these metrics. Reflecting on the pressure to compete, the actor said, "I had never bought into the notion of creative competition. It again reduces cinema and our art form into some kind of a competitive sport, and I don’t see that as doing full justice to the films that we make."

During his initial stint in the late 2000s and early 2010s, media narratives frequently pitted him against other rising stars. Khan said, "Someone may be emotionally moved by a film, someone may not. That’s fine. But measuring it as a metric of numbers, I have never bought into that. I don’t really subscribe to that."

Imran Khan on 'hypermasculine' roles in Bollywood

During a recent Reddit AMA, Imran Khan voiced his discomfort with the current Bollywood trend of "hyper-masculine" and violent roles. Khan responded to fans who urged him to avoid the "macho" narratives seen in recent hits like 'Animal' or 'Dhurandhar', stating he has zero interest in playing "angry men covered in blood."

Khan also criticized films that underline the toxic behavior, describing them as narratives that "coddle" the violent tantrums of emotionally immature characters. He underlined that his personal sensibilities wouldn't allow him to participate in storytelling he deems irresponsible, opting instead to stay true to the grounded and sensitive characters.

More about Imran Khan

Imran Khan was last seen as Milind Morea in 'Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos' that released on January 16, 2026. This spy action-comedy was directed by Vir Das and backed by Aamir Khan Productions. While his role is a cameo, it was a major talking point during the film’s promotion. Following its theatrical run, the film began streaming on Netflix on April 1, 2026. Khan will be seen in 'Adhure Hum Adhure Tum' opposite Bhumi Pednekar marking his first full-fledged lead role in over ten years. Directed by his 'Break Ke Baad' collaborator Danish Aslam, the film is touted to be a spiritual sequel to their 2010 hit.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”