Mukesh Khanna, renowned for his role as Bhishm Pitamah in Mahabharat, has voiced concerns about Ranbir Kapoor playing Lord Ram in the upcoming Ramayana adaptation. He believes that Ranbir’s recent image from Animal might negatively impact the portrayal of such an iconic character.
In an interview with Midday, Khanna initially refrained from commenting directly on Ranbir’s casting. However, he soon shared his doubts. He stated, “I won’t say anything about this, if I do, they’ll accuse me of commenting about everyone and everything. They’ve ruined my reputation. I recently commented about Jackie Shroff’s son… I’m not rude, but I speak my mind. If they’re making a Ramayana, comparisons with Arun Govil will be inevitable.”
Khanna highlighted the fact that Arun Govil’s portrayal of Ram has set a high bar. He pointed out that anyone playing Ram should not resemble Ravana. Moreover, he criticized Ranbir, saying, “If they are a lampat chhichhora (lewd hooligan) in real life, then it will show on screen.” According to Khanna, an actor playing Ram should avoid behaviors such as partying and drinking.
Additionally, Khanna referenced the failure of Adipurush, where Prabhas played Lord Ram. He explained that despite Prabhas’s stardom, the public didn’t accept him because he didn’t resemble the character of Ram. “He wasn’t accepted by the public, despite being such a huge star. Not because he’s a bad actor, but because he doesn’t look like Ram,” Khanna remarked. He further expressed concerns about Ranbir’s portrayal, pointing out that his role in Animal, which highlighted a negative persona, might affect his role as Ram. “He’s just done Animal, and his negative personality was highlighted in that movie. I hope that doesn’t disturb this,” Khanna added.
Despite these concerns, the eagerly awaited Ramayana film is progressing with a star-studded cast. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film will feature Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita. Yash will play Ravana, while Sunny Deol will portray Hanuman. Lara Dutta will take on the role of Kaikeyi, and Sheeba Chaddha will play Manthara. Earlier this year, a leaked photo from the set, showing Ranbir and Sai in costume, sparked excitement among fans.
The film is set to be released in two parts. Ramayana Part One is scheduled for release in 2026, while Part Two will follow in 2027.
Ranbir Kapoor shared his excitement about portraying Lord Ram during an interview with Deadline. He expressed that the opportunity was both a privilege and a challenge. “I am currently working on a film called Ramayan, which is India’s greatest story. It’s being produced by Namit Malhotra… It’s made over two parts. It’s the story of Lord Ram and Ravana and it’s India’s greatest story. And to say it to this new generation with the kind of technology that we have is a very exciting and very gratifying opportunity for me as an actor, especially to play the part of Lord Ram,” Ranbir said.
While Khanna has raised concerns, Ranbir remains optimistic about the project, viewing it as a significant responsibility to bring such a revered character to life.
