The Indian entertainment industry is buzzing with the arrival of a fresh face on the digital screen. Vir Hirani, the son of legendary Bollywood director Rajkumar Hirani, has officially made his acting debut. He stars as the lead character in the newly released comedy crime series titled Pritam and Pedro streaming on JioHotstar. While many expected the young creative to follow in the footsteps of his father by stepping behind the camera, a fascinating story has emerged about his sudden shift to acting. Rajkumar Hirani recently shared a lighthearted revelation about how superstar Ranbir Kapoor played a major role in inspiring his son to change his career path.

From Assistant Director to the Front of the Camera

Before choosing to perform on screen, Vir Hirani was heavily involved in learning the craft of filmmaking. Rajkumar Hirani noticed his son making impressive short films during his school days and was convinced that Vir would grow up to be a director. To give him practical experience, the filmmaker brought Vir onto his massive film sets. Vir took a break after finishing school to work as an assistant director on the blockbuster movie Sanju and was also present during several shooting schedules of the hit film PK.

While working on the sets of Sanju, Vir spent hours closely observing the film making process and watching actor Ranbir Kapoor completely transform into Sanjay Dutt. Rajkumar Hirani believes that this close interaction with Ranbir changed everything for his son. Witnessing the dedication, charisma, and creative process of a top tier actor up close shifted the perspective of the young assistant, sparking a brand new passion for performance.

The Words of Encouragement From Ranbir Kapoor

The filmmaker jokingly recalled that the influence went beyond just passive observation. Ranbir Kapoor noticed the spark in the young assistant and offered words of motivation that left a lasting impression. According to Rajkumar Hirani, Ranbir likely told Vir that he looked like a hero and possessed the qualities needed for the big screen.

Those encouraging words from an established superstar were enough to completely seal the decision for Vir. The director smiled as he recounted his son coming to him one day to firmly declare that acting was the only thing he wanted to pursue going forward. What started as a learning experience behind the scenes quickly transformed into a lifelong ambition to tell stories through acting.

Using the Famous Philosophy of 3 Idiots

Like any concerned parent, Rajkumar Hirani was initially hesitant about his son entering the unpredictable world of acting. He admitted that he tried his best to talk Vir out of his decision because he had never seen his son perform on stage or screen. The director wanted Vir to stick to directing where he had already shown clear promise.

However, Vir had the perfect counterargument ready. He used his father’s own cinematic masterpiece against him by quoting the famous philosophy from the movie 3 Idiots. Vir reminded his father about the core message of the film, which tells people to follow their true passion and do what their heart loves. The director confessed that he was completely struck by this reply and realized he had no choice but to support his son’s dream.

Dedication Training and Earning the Role Meritly

Instead of demanding a massive commercial launch from his famous father, Vir chose a path of hard work and discipline. He spent the next six to seven years training extensively as an actor, diving deep into theatre and honing his performance skills. When casting began for the cybercrime series Pritam and Pedro, Vir did not ask his father for a favor.

Instead, he went directly to director Avinash Arun to ask for an audition without telling his father. Vir read the script and continuously sent self shot audition videos for nearly forty different scenes. Impressed by his dedication and a powerful stage play performance, the creative team decided he was perfect for the role of Pritam. Rajkumar Hirani revealed that he was not even planning to include his son in the project until the director strongly backed his talent. With costar Arshad Warsi praising his humility and commitment, Vir Hirani is well on his way to carving out his own unique identity in Indian cinema.