Ranbir Kapoor’s Badtameez Dil on Travel and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Disclaimer: For all the ladies who love travelling and have this secret dream of taking off to see the world with Bollywood heartthrob, Ranbir Kapoor, here’s a reality check!

Ranbir does play a travel buff going on adventures with his buddies in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (YJHD), a Karan Johar production, perhaps the most-awaited movie of the year. But off-screen, the actor likes to travel ALONE!

After Farah Khan and Gul Panag’s features on Celeb Travelogue, it’s time to break the gender divide with Ranbir discussing his badtameez dil on travel, food and movies.

What is the theme of YJHD?

YJHD celebrates the best of travel, fun and friendship. It’s a story around Bunny (the character I play in the movie) who books a trip to Manali with his group of friends through MakeMyTrip.com. He wants to travel the world and cracks a job as a travel videographer where he gets to explore places like San Francisco, LA, New York, Colorado, Paris. The story revolves around travel.

A travel experience from YJHD that has remained with you! Well, the director of the movie believes that ‘hardship ke bina movie acchi nahi banti’. For the Manali shoot, we travelled for about 4 hours, following which, he took us to some mountain where we had to walk for another 2 hours until we reached our rooms. Much to our surprise, the hotel had no electricity and no hot water supply. (He sighs!)

YJHD is releasing in Russia. Excited?

I’m glad that Indian cinema is exposed to so many markets. Shah Rukh Khan has opened territories like France, Germany where Hindi films never got released. I’m happy that YJHD is releasing in Russia. I’ve not been to Russia myself. Hope they invite me.

Tips for a travel videographer?

A travel videographer comes across different people and cultures. I would just say that rather than doing touristy stuff like making videos of museums and bridges, a videographer should go in to the heart of the city; interact with people, spend time with them, have local food. That’s what brings out the true essence of a place.

If you were to choose a destination for the shooting of a film, which place would it be?

I would love to shoot somewhere in Africa, may be Kenya. Having said that, I think India has a lot of beautiful cities that are unexplored. Given a chance, I would love to set  foot in Madhya Pradesh and Kerala.

One travel story that freaked you out!

When I was a kid, I visited Orlando with my parents and sister and I got lost somewhere for 3 hours. Orlando being a huge city, I got so worried that I thought I had lost my parents for life. How will I be found – was the concern that haunted me every second. It freaked me out completely.

What according to you is the role of a travel service provider?

A travel service provider narrows down so many options and helps plan your travel better. You don’t have to go through 10 different websites to book your holiday. A portal like MakeMyTrip brings the world closer. Offering flights, hotels and holidays in one place, it makes life easier.

What are the top 3 things you look for when booking a hotel?

1. Warm smiles that give a positive vibe 2. Good room service 3. Any hotel that serves a delicious burger, good kaali dal and mouth-watering butter chicken is a good hotel  for me (a big smile on Ranbir’s face follows the food description)

Your favourite holiday destination is…

New York (pat comes the reply!) I’m a lazy traveller. If I get time I’ll rather go to places I know (yes, we get the meaning of lazy). There is so much more to discover at a place that you like; the world is too big. If the travel bug catches you, there is no stopping. Over the years, I feel I have become a wanderer, rather a dreamer. So, if I’m in a place alone, all by myself, I feel happy.

What are your top 3 romantic holiday destinations?

I don’t follow the cliché of romantic destinations. But I believe, romance can happen anywhere – in your own city, in the winters of Delhi, in Goa – as long as you love someone! 

Do you prefer adventure or leisure holidays? I’m not an adventure person. I don’t do bungee jumping, parasailing or scuba diving. I’m a person who likes to go on a holiday, wake up late, eat good food, walk around and just chill. Adventure to me is taking a rollercoaster ride in Disneyland.

Your favourite hotel in India is…

Taj Lands End, Mumbai.

Favourite travel movie!

Into The Wild

Top 3 places on your wish list.

1. Maasai Mara 2. Brazil 3. Space – people do go to space these days, so why can’t I?

With MakeMyTrip being the official partner of YJHD, I’m excited to watch the movie. (And, it’s not because I won free tickets in an in-house contest!)

Are you excited to watch the Ranbir-Deepika duo?

(With inputs from Keyur Joshi and Manish Kalra)