Did You Know? Ranbir Kapoor First Rejected Ramayana Role, Daughter Raha Changed His Decision

Ramayana is in discussion after its first introduction video of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama was released. The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and is planned as a two-part series. It tells the story of Ram, Sita, and their journey.

Ranbir Kapoor Had Said No at First

Ranbir Kapoor shared that he did not accept the role when it was first offered to him.

He said that around four years ago, when producer Namit Malhotra approached him, his first response was no. He felt he was not ready and would not be able to do justice to the role.

Later, his thinking changed. He said this role came at a time when he wanted to change his life and routine.

Daughter Raha Became a Turning Point

Ranbir Kapoor also spoke about his personal life. He became a father in 2022 when his daughter Raha was born.

He said this phase of his life changed his thinking. Playing Ram and becoming a father happened around the same time, which made him view the role differently. After this, he decided to take up the film.

Preparation for the Role

Ranbir Kapoor said his preparation started when he watched Ramayan by Ramanand Sagar.

He said the story is well-known and part of the culture. For the role, he worked on physical, emotional, and mental preparation. He also said that understanding the character was important.

Introduction video 

On the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, an introduction video of Ramayana was released which shows the world of the story with sets, locations, and costumes.

The VFX looks large in scale, though some characters like rakshas feels extraordinary in parts. The action scenes are fast and edited in a modern style. It is not clear yet how this will match with the time period.

The background score supports the scenes and changes with the moments. There are short glimpses of characters, and a voice, assumed to be Yash as Ravan, has created interest.

Cast and Crew

The film features:

Ranbir Kapoor as Ram

Sai Pallavi as Sita

Ravi Dubey as Lakshman

Sunny Deol as Hanuman

Yash as Ravan

Other actors include Amitabh Bachchan, Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Vivek Oberoi, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Kunal Kapoor, and Sheeba Chaddha. 

Music and Production

The background score is by Hans Zimmer and the songs are by A. R. Rahman. The film is produced by Namit Malhotra under Prime Focus Studios and Monster Mind Creations.

The shoot started in April 2024 and was completed in November 2024. The film is now in post-production, mainly for VFX work.

Release

The first part of Ramayana is planned for release in November 2026 during Diwali. The second part is expected in 2027.

A Family Connection to Ram

Years ago, Prithviraj Kapoor played Ram in the film Seeta. The film was shown at the Venice International Film Festival.

Now, Ranbir Kapoor is playing the same role, linking two generations of the same family to this character.

Overall

Ramayana has started conversations after its introduction video. Ranbir Kapoor’s decision to first reject and then accept the role adds another layer to the film’s journey.

More details about the film will be clear after the trailer and release.