Ranbir Kapoor arrived at 3 am for Sanju makeup, reveals Rajkumar Hirani
Synopsis
Rajkumar Hirani's account of Ranbir Kapoor sitting alone in a Film City van at 3 am — enduring 4-5 hours of beard makeup before a 12-hour shoot — reframes the current Bollywood debate on regulated work hours. It is a rare, specific window into what a demanding physical transformation actually costs an actor, and why some filmmakers argue the industry's commitment culture remains intact.
Key Takeaways
Ranbir Kapoor arrived on the Sanju set at 3 am for a 7 am call time during the film's 2018 production.
His beard prosthetic and makeup process took 4 to 5 hours to complete each day.
Ranbir then shot for 12 consecutive hours without complaint, according to director Rajkumar Hirani .
Hirani's remarks come amid an ongoing industry debate over limiting actors' on-set working hours.
Sanju chronicles Sanjay Dutt's life, including his drug addiction and arrest linked to the 1993 Bombay bombings .
Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani has revealed that actor Ranbir Kapoor used to arrive on set as early as 3 am during the production of their 2018 biographical drama Sanju — a detail that has resurfaced in the context of ongoing industry debates around regulated working hours for actors.
The 3 AM Commitment
Hirani explained that Ranbir's on-screen portrayal of Sanjay Dutt required an elaborate beard prosthetic and makeup process that took between 4 to 5 hours to complete. With a standard 7 am call time, that meant Ranbir had to be in the makeup chair well before dawn — alone, in a van parked at Film City, with little more than a hanging lamp for company.
'I used to arrive at 6 am, and there used to be a van outside, a lamp hanging outside, and inside, his makeup used to be underway,' Hirani recalled. 'And then we would shoot with him for 12 whole hours. He never complained about it. Never, to anyone.'
Hirani on Today's Actors and Work Hours
The director's remarks come at a time when a section of the Hindi film industry has been vocal about limiting on-set hours. When asked whether actors demanding restricted shifts hamper filmmaking or inflate production costs, Hirani pushed back on the premise.
'I don't think any actor from today's generation says that we will work only for these many hours. They understand the importance. Toh karna hai toh khatam karna hai. They will finish it,' he said.
Hirani added that, in his experience, senior actors have historically been willing to work extended hours given the financial stakes of a production — and that the younger generation he has collaborated with has matched that commitment.
About Sanju
Sanju, released in 2018, chronicles key chapters in the life of actor Sanjay Dutt, including his struggles with drug addiction and his arrest in connection with the 1993 Bombay bombings. Led by Ranbir Kapoor in the title role, the film was both a critical and commercial success, widely regarded as one of Hirani's most demanding productions in terms of physical transformation for its lead actor.
The Broader Industry Context
The debate over working hours in Bollywood has gained fresh momentum in recent months, with several prominent voices calling for formalised shift limits on film sets. Hirani's account of Ranbir's dedication offers a counterpoint — though it also raises questions about whether such expectations should be the norm or the exception in an industry still navigating labour standards. The conversation is likely to continue as more actors and technicians push for structured protections.
Point of View
But it inadvertently highlights a tension the industry has not resolved: extreme personal dedication is celebrated as a virtue precisely because structural protections do not exist to make it unnecessary. Ranbir sitting alone at 3 am in a Film City van is a story of professionalism — it is also a story of a system that has never had to formalise reasonable hours because stars have historically absorbed the cost silently. As the working-hours debate intensifies, the industry will need to decide whether Ranbir's 3 am arrival is a benchmark to admire or a baseline to question.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Ranbir Kapoor come to the Sanju set at 3 am?
Ranbir Kapoor arrived at 3 am because his character's beard prosthetic and makeup took 4 to 5 hours to apply, and the standard call time was 7 am. Director Rajkumar Hirani confirmed he would find Ranbir already in the makeup chair when he arrived at 6 am.
How long did Ranbir Kapoor shoot each day on Sanju?
According to Rajkumar Hirani, after completing his lengthy makeup process, Ranbir Kapoor would shoot for 12 consecutive hours. Hirani noted that Ranbir never complained about the schedule to anyone.
What is the working-hours debate in Bollywood about?
A section of the Hindi film industry has been advocating for capped, regulated on-set working hours for actors, citing physical and mental wellbeing. Hirani's remarks suggest that, in his experience, actors — including younger ones — continue to prioritise completing the work over adhering to fixed time limits.
What is the film Sanju about?
Sanju is a 2018 biographical drama directed by Rajkumar Hirani and starring Ranbir Kapoor as Sanjay Dutt. The film covers Dutt's life including his drug addiction and his arrest in connection with the 1993 Bombay bombings.
What did Rajkumar Hirani say about today's generation of actors and work hours?
Hirani said he does not believe today's generation of actors insists on working only fixed hours. He said the actors he has worked with understand the importance of finishing the job, summing it up with the phrase: 'Toh karna hai toh khatam karna hai' — if it has to be done, it has to be finished.
