Ranbir Kapoor’s Sanju Work Ethic Highlighted by Rajkumar Hirani

Rajkumar Hirani has praised Ranbir Kapoor’s commitment during the making of Sanju, revealing the actor routinely reported to the set at 3 a.m. to prepare for a 7 a.m. shoot. His remarks come as the Hindi film industry continues debating demands for regulated working hours following discussions sparked by Deepika Padukone’s call for eight-hour shifts.

Hirani shared the behind-the-scenes story while responding to questions about whether shorter workdays affect film production schedules and budgets. Speaking to IANS, the filmmaker said the actors he has worked with understand the importance of completing a film’s schedule and have rarely resisted demanding shooting conditions.

Recalling the production of the 2018 blockbuster Sanju, Hirani explained that Kapoor’s transformation into Sanjay Dutt required four to five hours of prosthetic makeup every day. To be camera-ready for a 7 a.m. shoot, the actor would arrive at Mumbai’s Film City around 3 a.m. and begin preparations long before the crew assembled.

“I used to arrive at 6 a.m., and his makeup would already be underway,” Hirani said, adding that Kapoor would then shoot for another 12 hours without complaining. The director said he had never seen the actor express frustration despite the physically demanding schedule.

The comments arrive as conversations around working conditions in the entertainment industry have intensified. Deepika Padukone recently defended her support for eight-hour shifts, arguing that structured schedules should not be viewed negatively simply because they are advocated by women. She also said several leading male stars have followed similar work patterns for years and criticised what she described as the industry’s long-standing culture of disorganisation.

Hirani also highlighted another aspect of Kapoor’s working style that, he believes, sets him apart. Speaking separately about actor entourages, the filmmaker said Kapoor managed most communication personally throughout the making of Sanju. Hirani revealed he completed the entire film without ever knowing who Kapoor’s manager was because the actor dealt directly with assistants and crew members whenever something was needed.

His observations echo comments made by others who have worked with Kapoor, including Animal actor Srinath Maganti, who previously described the star as someone who arrives on set without a large entourage and maintains an approachable relationship with colleagues.

The renewed attention on Kapoor’s work ethic comes as the actor prepares for one of the biggest projects of his career. He will next headline Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, with Sai Pallavi, Yash, Ravi Dubey, and Sunny Deol among the ensemble cast. The two-part epic is scheduled to begin releasing during Diwali 2026.

During recent promotional interviews for Pritam and Pedro, Hirani also offered updates on his own future projects. The filmmaker confirmed that Munna Bhai 3 remains in development, although he reiterated that he will only proceed once he is fully satisfied with the screenplay. He also acknowledged that he has been thinking about revisiting the world of PK, hinting that a sequel featuring Ranbir Kapoor remains an idea under consideration.

For now, Hirani’s reflections on Sanju have added another perspective to the industry’s ongoing conversation about balancing demanding film productions with evolving expectations around healthier and more structured working environments.