Ranbir Kapoor Speaks on 'Responsibility' of Playing Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayana'

Ranbir Kapoor has opened up about the profound responsibility of stepping into the role of Lord Ram in director Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming cinematic epic, Ramayana. In a newly released behind-the-scenes video detailing the making of the ambitious project, the Bollywood star reflected on the spiritual and emotional weight carrying the iconic character entails.

'This Is Not Just a Role, It Is a Responsibility'

Reflecting on what playing Lord Ram means to him personally, Kapoor emphasized that he approached the project far beyond ordinary acting assignments.

"Yeh role nahi hai. It's not ki mujhe ek film offer hui hai aur yeh ek role exciting hai... yeh ek zimmedari hai (This is not just a role. It's not that I've been offered a film, and this is an exciting role... this is a responsibility)," Kapoor said. "But I think everything just comes down to the simplicity and belief of the individual playing Lord Ram."

Kapoor also cited guiding Vedic wisdom that stayed with him throughout production: "You know there is a well-known principle from our Vedic text, 'Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah'; Dharma protects those who uphold it."

Inspiration from Arun Govil and Focus on Forgiveness

Kapoor paid tribute to Arun Govil, whose portrayal of Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar's classic television series defined the role for generations.

"Mr Arun Govil, Arun sir, is the iconic Lord Ram for all of us," Kapoor shared. "His one line that really resonated with me: 'Kshama Dharma, Kshama Yagya, Kshama Veda, Sanatana.' See, Lord Ram's greatest strength was not his bow; it was his ability to forgive."

Global Collaboration and Action Direction

Produced by Namit Malhotra, the production brings together leading cinematic talent from across India and Hollywood. Kapoor revealed how international experts contributed to bringing the story alive while respecting its core emotion.

"Namit got the best of the east and the best of the west come together with a single belief of the telling of Ramayan," Kapoor said, praising movement coach Terry Notary and legendary Hollywood action director Guy Norris.

"Somebody like Guy Norris, understanding or speaking about the emotionality, who's actually an action director... him being so interested in the emotionality of Ram was such a pleasant surprise," he noted. "So 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 place in the story."

Star-Studded Cast and Release Date

Ramayana: Part One features an ensemble cast, with Sai Pallavi starring as Sita, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, and Arun Govil portraying King Dashrath. The cast also includes Yash, Sunny Deol, Vivek Oberoi, Lara Dutta, Rakul Preet Singh, Indira Krishnan, and Sheeba Chaddha.

The first chapter of the epic adaptation is scheduled to hit Indian cinemas on November 8, 2026.