Four years ago, when the role of Lord Ram was first offered to him, Ranbir immediately declined. “My initial reaction was ‘no.’ I felt I was not worthy of this role and could not do it full justice,” he confessed.
Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor
Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor is all set to enthrall audiences in the epic film Ramayana. The first glimpse of the movie was recently unveiled in Los Angeles, where Ranbir spoke about the depth and grandeur of his character, Shri Ram. Interestingly, the actor revealed that he initially turned down the role, only to embrace it after a life-changing event-becoming a father.
Why He Initially Said ‘No’
Four years ago, when the role of Lord Ram was first offered to him, Ranbir immediately declined. "My initial reaction was 'no.' I felt I was not worthy of this role and could not do it full justice," he confessed.
The turning point came with the birth of his daughter, Raha Kapoor. Ranbir reflected, "My life was in need of a change. Becoming a father and receiving the opportunity to play Lord Ram-these two events became pivotal for me."
Preparing to Embody Lord Ram
Ranbir took his preparation seriously. He revisited the Ramayana to gain a deeper understanding of Lord Ram’s journey, acknowledging, "Ramayana is deeply ingrained in our collective consciousness and culture. We take immense pride in this story and in Lord Ram."
The actor explained that portraying such an iconic figure required more than physical readiness-it demanded emotional and spiritual alignment. "To portray this character, truthfulness and integrity are absolutely essential," he said. He added, "It is my Dharma-my duty-to perform my work with absolute honesty and sincerity," quoting the verse, "Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah," meaning: “He who protects Dharma is, in turn, protected by Dharma.”
Why Ranbir Was the Director’s Choice
Director Nitesh Tiwari described Lord Ram as a character of subtle yet profound emotions. "Lord Ram spoke very little, yet his love ran deep. His pain was not visible, but it could be felt. For this role, we needed an actor capable of conveying all these emotions, and we felt that there was no one better than Ranbir Kapoor," he explained.
Alongside Ranbir, the film stars Sai Pallavi, Yash, Ravi Dubey, Lara Dutta, and Sunny Deol in pivotal roles. The first installment of Ramayana is slated to release this Diwali, promising a grand cinematic experience.
