Archive · 2 Sep 2026
Annu Kapoor Says He Cannot Recognise Bollywood’s Younger Stars
Annu Kapoor talked about three younger Bollywood actors in a podcast.
He said he would not recognize Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, or Sidharth Malhotra if they stood in front of him.
He explained that he knows Ranbir because Ranbir is actor Rishi Kapoor’s son.
He said he has not watched the work of Ranveer or Sidharth.
Kapoor also discussed comments made by Naseeruddin Shah about Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan.
Shah has said some of Bachchan’s films were entertaining but not great.
He also said Shah Rukh became a superstar without industry godfathers but was becoming boring as an actor.
Kapoor disagreed with Shah’s negative comments.
He said the public made Bachchan and Shah Rukh superstars.
Annu Kapoor said he would not recognize Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, or Sidharth Malhotra if they appeared before him.
He said he knows Ranbir mainly because he is Rishi Kapoor’s son, not because he has watched his work.
Kapoor said he has not seen Ranveer Singh or Sidharth Malhotra’s work and does not know them personally.
He defended Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan against Naseeruddin Shah’s criticism of their acting.
Naseeruddin Shah has criticized Bachchan’s films and called Shah Rukh Khan increasingly boring as an actor.
- Who
- Veteran actor Annu Kapoor, along with Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Sidharth Malhotra, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Naseeruddin Shah.
- What
- Kapoor said he could not recognize three younger actors and defended Bachchan and Shah Rukh against Shah’s criticism.
- When
- During a recent conversation with Bhanu Pathak; the reports also cite Shah interviews from 2010 and 2024.
- Where
- The conversation was published on Bhanu Pathak’s YouTube channel.
- Why
- Kapoor said he had not watched much of the younger actors’ work and argued that audiences, rather than individual opinions, made Bachchan and Shah Rukh superstars.
Annu Kapoor’s Defense
Naseeruddin Shah’s Criticism
Public support and stardom
Annu Kapoor’s Defense
Kapoor said audiences made Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan superstars and questioned why successful stars were singled out for criticism.
Naseeruddin Shah’s Criticism
Shah has offered critical views of both actors’ work while acknowledging Shah Rukh Khan’s achievement of becoming a superstar without godfathers.
Amitabh Bachchan’s acting and films
Annu Kapoor’s Defense
Kapoor defended Bachchan’s standing as a successful star whose status was supported by the public.
Naseeruddin Shah’s Criticism
Shah said Bachchan could not play the role of Bhola in Manthan and said Sholay was entertaining but not a great film.
Shah Rukh Khan’s acting
Annu Kapoor’s Defense
Kapoor objected to what he characterized as Shah’s repeatedly negative comments about successful stars.
Naseeruddin Shah’s Criticism
Shah said he admired Shah Rukh Khan’s rise to superstardom but felt Khan was becoming boring as an actor.
- Speaker
- Annu Kapoor
- Interview host
- Bhanu Pathak
- Younger actors mentioned
- Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, and Sidharth Malhotra
- Kapoor’s explanation
- He said he knows Ranbir as Rishi Kapoor’s son but has not watched the work of the other younger actors.
- Naseeruddin Shah on Amitabh Bachchan
- Shah said Bachchan would not be able to play Bhola in Manthan and described Sholay as entertaining but not a great film.
- Naseeruddin Shah on Shah Rukh Khan
- Shah praised Khan for achieving superstardom without godfathers but said he was becoming boring as an actor.
- Kapoor’s latest reported film
- Uttar Da Puttar, released in theatres in July 2026.
Sources
'Woh Kaun Hai...': Annu Kapoor Says He Won't Recognise Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh & Sidharth Malhotra If They Come In Front Of Him
Annu Kapoor can’t tell Ranbir, Ranveer, Sidharth Malhotra apart: ‘Main nahi janta inhe’