When Ranbir Kapoor disclosed how Sanjay Leela Bhansali abused and beat him on the sets of Saawariya

Ranbir Kapoor made his Bollywood debut with the film Saawariya in 2007 and was immediately labelled as the heartthrob of the nation. He proved his acting prowess in his first film itself and went on to bag a number of projects, further impressing the crowd with his craft. However, his first project didn’t come easy for him. It appears that all of the hard work has paid off, and much of it, in Ranbir Kapoor's own words, has to do with his very first Director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali. No matter how unpleasant the memories are, Ranbir still cares about that difficult journey.

In an interview with Neha Dhupia for her podcast No Filter Neha in 2016, the Brahmastra actor claimed that Sanjay Leela Bhansali was a strict taskmaster who made him kneel while beating him. At one point, the beatings became so intense and the actor felt like he was being tortured that he even chose to quit Saawariya after 10 to 11 months of filming. Kapoor remembers telling himself he couldn't take it anymore and that it was getting to him. The actor admitted that he is an overly sensitive and emotional person, and Bhansali learned this and continued to take a jab at it.

Ranbir concluded by saying, however, that the director was a true teacher in that respect and had taught him everything he knows about acting, emotions, and everything else that goes along with them on screen. All of the performances he gives in movies are a result of that experience.

On the work front, Ranbir Kapoor will be next seen in Shamshera and Brahmastra.