Ramayana Ranbir Kapoor Lord Ram casting: Why makers say he was the right choice

Ranbir Kapoor's casting as Lord Ram in Ramayana has drawn mixed reactions since the makers announced the choice, with some fans welcoming it while others resurfaced old videos of statements made by the actor. Now, the film's team has publicly explained why it believes Kapoor was the right choice for the role, with director Nitesh Tiwari, producer Namit Malhotra and actors Arun Govil, Ravie Dubey and Sai Pallavi sharing their views in a newly released video marking Kapoor's birthday.

According to The Indian Express, the video also features Kapoor speaking about the responsibility he associates with playing Lord Ram. His comments focus on simplicity, forgiveness, belief and the faith audiences place in the role, while the filmmakers and co-stars describe qualities they say made him suitable for the part. Their remarks arrive as Ramayana prepares to reach theatres on Diwali this year, with its second part scheduled for next Diwali.

• Nitesh Tiwari: Said casting Shri Ram was “next to impossible” and that Ranbir Kapoor “checked all the boxes”.
• Arun Govil: Said Kapoor comes closest among younger stars to how he imagined Ram.
• Sai Pallavi: Said Kapoor reminded her of an image of Ram she remembered from childhood.
• Ravie Dubey: Pointed to the simplicity he sees in Kapoor's eyes.
• Ranbir Kapoor: Said playing Lord Ram is “not just another role” but a responsibility.

Ramayana Ranbir Kapoor Lord Ram casting: why Nitesh Tiwari backed him

Nitesh Tiwari framed the casting challenge around the stature of the figure being portrayed. He said: "In India, we believe that even if we imbibe just 1% of what Shri Ram was, that will make us a great human being. So just imagine, the kind of human he must have been. And that's why, the casting of Shri Ram is next to impossible. We can only attempt. When Namit discussed Ranbir's name, I too thought that he checked all the boxes."

The director's comments underline the approach the team says it took to the role: rather than presenting the choice as straightforward, Tiwari described it as an attempt to find an actor who could come close to the qualities associated with Shri Ram. Producer Namit Malhotra also pointed to Kapoor's sincerity, saying: "That sincerity and face of Ranbir became for Nitesh and I not a reason to debate."

What Arun Govil saw in Ranbir Kapoor

Arun Govil, who plays Dashrath in the film and remains widely known for playing Ram in Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan, offered one of the most direct endorsements of Kapoor's casting. He said: "Speaking about Ranbir, the way I had imagined Ram would have been - I see certain things in Ranbir. And you don't expect a star to come touch your feet, but he always did that to me on set. If you compare with all the available younger stars of today, Ranbir comes closest to playing Ram."

Govil's remarks combine his impression of Kapoor on set with his own long association with the character of Ram. His reference to Kapoor touching his feet was presented as an example of the conduct he observed during filming, while his broader point was that Kapoor came closest, in his view, to the qualities he associated with the role among today's younger stars.

Who said what about Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram

Name	Role in the film	Gist of their point
Nitesh Tiwari	Director	Casting Shri Ram was extremely difficult, but he felt Kapoor checked all the boxes.
Namit Malhotra	Producer	Kapoor's sincerity and face made the choice clear to him and Tiwari.
Arun Govil	Dashrath	He saw qualities in Kapoor that matched how he had imagined Ram.
Sai Pallavi	Actor	Kapoor reminded her of an image of Ram she had carried since childhood.
Ravie Dubey	Actor	He said the simplicity associated with Lord Ram is something he sees in Kapoor's eyes.
Ranbir Kapoor	Lord Ram	He described the role as a responsibility built around simplicity, belief and people's faith.

Sai Pallavi and Ravie Dubey on the qualities they noticed

Sai Pallavi described a visual connection between Kapoor and the image of Ram she remembered growing up. She said: "I don't know if it's quite famous, but there is this picture of a slender Ram and his head is a little tilted and there is a very small, petite Sita. That's the image I remember from my childhood. Now, suddenly, I could see that Ram that I had seen in my childhood and I was awestruck."

Ravie Dubey focused on simplicity. He said: "I strongly believed that the simplicity we hear about Lord Ram is the same simplicity I see in Ranbir Kapoor's eyes." Dubey had also previously told Ranveer Allahbadia that working on the film required changes from the cast. "That role changed me. I had to transform myself to do justice to it because the audience can easily tell when you are faking it. I completely altered my routine. In fact, all of us did, including Ranbir Kapoor. He has sacrificed so much for this film. This feels more like a yagya. We all did everything in our power to stay true to these characters in how we behave, react, and even speak."

The Indian Express also noted reports claiming that Kapoor gave up alcohol and non-vegetarian food while preparing for the role.

Ranbir Kapoor on responsibility, forgiveness and faith

Kapoor's own comments in the new video place the emphasis on what he sees as Lord Ram's defining qualities. He said: "The biggest weapon of Shri Ram wasn't his bow and arrow, but his ability to forgive. This is not just another role for me. It is a responsibility. I think everything just comes down to the simplicity and belief of the individual playing Lord Ram."

He also connected his preparation to a principle from Vedic texts. Kapoor said: "There is a well-known principle from our Vedic texts that reads: Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah. Dharma protects those who uphold it. Every day I reminded myself that my job was not to be worthy of this role. My job was to be worthy of the faith that people placed in this role."

Those remarks differ from the uncertainty Kapoor has said he initially felt when the part first came to him. At a Q and A during a New York special IMAX trailer screening, he recalled: "Coming to play Lord Ram, I remember when Namit offered me this part around four years back, my instant reaction was: I am not fit enough, good enough. I felt I wouldn't be able to do full justice. But that fear quickly turned into gratitude because opportunities like this were something I truly needed in my life."

How Kapoor says the role became a turning point

Kapoor also linked the opportunity to changes in his personal life. He said: "There was a period when I needed to change my lifestyle. I had just become a father for the first time. The sweet coincidence of playing Lord Ram and becoming a father became a turning point in my life."

That earlier admission gives context to the more assured language he is using now. His first reaction, by his own account, centred on whether he was capable of doing justice to the role. His current comments instead emphasise responsibility, faith and the conduct he believes the role demands.

What happens next for Ramayana

The focus now moves from the discussion around the casting to the film's theatrical rollout. Ramayana's first part is set to release on Diwali this year, while the second part is scheduled for next Diwali.

Until then, the newly released comments offer the clearest collective explanation from the film's team of why Kapoor was selected. Tiwari has described casting Shri Ram as nearly impossible, Govil has pointed to qualities he observed in Kapoor personally, Pallavi has connected him to a childhood image of Ram, Dubey has stressed simplicity, and Kapoor himself has framed the part as a responsibility rather than simply another acting assignment.

Frequently asked questions

Why was Ranbir Kapoor chosen to play Lord Ram in Ramayana?

Director Nitesh Tiwari said casting Shri Ram was “next to impossible”, but felt Ranbir Kapoor “checked all the boxes” when producer Namit Malhotra suggested him. Malhotra also pointed to Kapoor's sincerity, while several co-stars highlighted simplicity and qualities they associated with Lord Ram.

What did Arun Govil say about Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram?

Arun Govil said he could see in Ranbir Kapoor certain qualities that matched how he had imagined Ram. He also recalled Kapoor touching his feet on set and said that, among today's younger stars, Kapoor came closest to playing Ram.

What did Ranbir Kapoor say about playing Lord Ram?

Ranbir Kapoor said playing Lord Ram is “not just another role” but a responsibility. He spoke about forgiveness, simplicity and belief, and said he reminded himself that his task was to be worthy of the faith people placed in the role.

When will Ramayana release?

Ramayana's first part is set to hit theatres on Diwali this year. The second part is scheduled for next Diwali. No more specific theatrical release date was stated in The Indian Express report.