Ranbir Kapoor: The reason for me being an actor is Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan's films

Kapoor! A licence to entertain. The first family of filmdom. Cinematic royalty itself...Johar! An expert on jewels. Master craftsman. Can weave gems into set pieces and celluloid art... It takes one to sparkle the other. The gemstone needs the facets of the storyteller. The jeweller needs a stone to polish into his weaving of stories. They complete each other. So forKaran Johar, life comes a full circle after growing up on Rishi Kapoor's histrionics in 'Chandni' and for Ranbir Kapoor, it's back to playing the eternal lover after a series of experimental frames in tepidity. While for Karan, 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' ('ADHM') was "liberating", Ranbir was "deeply moved". The two are a crackling combo, like you will just find out. So read on for a fiery, witty, candid dialogue. With coffee, confessions and more...

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Ranbir, you have said that you play Karan Johar in the film. Is it true?

RK: Well, Karan had a very personal connect to the story and my character (Ayan). I am sure he's been heartbroken many times in his life. I don't really know the details, but the heartbreak and the pain felt real. There's a lot of pain behind the smile and humour that you see in Karan Johar. When he narrated the story, I was deeply moved and I knew that I wanted to do it — apart from the fact that he is Karan Johar and every actor wants to work with him. So, even if it was a bad script, I would still do his film.

KJo: All the characters that I have projected before 'ADHM' have come out of my views, travels and observations. This one felt deeply personal, there are scenes, I have to accept, that have happened with me. Perhaps, even the conflict of the film is derived from my life, though this story is nowhere close to a true story. I want to clearly say that this film is not about infidelity. It is not a film that will question your morality, but your sense of love.

Ranbir, are you the kind of actor who goes very deep into the character of your film? To the point of isolating yourself to prep for a role?

RK: No, I think it all comes from the filmmaker. Everything is in the script, everything has been thought out. Between action and cut - that's the life you live. I am too lazy to become a method actor or go into the entire process of living a part. I did that with 'Rockstar', as that's the only film that demanded it, considering I don't have any connect with music. I can't sing or play an instrument. I had to prep for it. Other than that, I really haven't surrendered to a character so much.

Karan, given that the film is so personal, you must have emotionally invested the most in this?