Ranbir Kapoor reveals why he said No to Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana and what changed his mind

Ranbir Kapoor is all set to reprise the role of Lord Rama in Ramayana. Ranbir Kapoor who has a remarkable history of portraying every character with his heart, have made fans even more excited for his upcoming character as 'Lord Rama'. 

But did you know that Ranbir Kapor was hesitant to accept the role at first? Yes, Ranbir Kapoor recently revealed about the same at the film's first glimpses in Los Angeles. During the event, he stated, "I remember when Namit offered me this part around 4 years ago, my instant reaction was ‘No’, I'm not fit enough, not good enough, and I won't be able to do full justice."

Ranbir said 'No' to Ramayana because...

For Ranbir, stepping into the shoes of Lord Ram wasn’t just another acting opportunity it was a huge responsibility. The character represents an ideal figure deeply rooted in faith, culture, and morality. He felt he wasn’t “fit enough” or “good enough” to do justice to such a revered role. The pressure of portraying a figure worshipped by millions made him question whether he could live up to expectations.

Ranbir believed that he might not be able to embody the purity, strength, and righteousness associated with the role. That fear made him step away from the project initially, even though it was one of the most ambitious films of his career.

What made Ranbir Kapor accept the role later?

Ranbir also mentioned how things changed for him after the birth of his daughter Raha. He said, fatherhood brought a new sense of responsibility, maturity, and introspection.

Ranbir said, “That fear very quickly turned into gratitude because opportunities like this were needed very much in my life. I was in a period in my life where I needed to change my life and lifestyle. I became a father for the first time. I think the sweet coincidence of playing Lord Rama and becoming a father was needed for a turning point in my life."

Ranbir Kapor as 'Lord Rama'

Eventually, Ranbir decided to take on the role, not because the fear disappeared, but because he was ready to face it. What changed wasn’t the magnitude of the responsibility it was his mindset.

About Ramayana

Alongwith Ranbir Kapoor, the film includes a stellar ensemble namely- Sai Pallavi as Sita, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, Suny Deol as Hanuman, Arun Govil as Dashrath, Indira Krishnan as Kaushalya, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara, Vivek Oberoi as Vidyutjiva and Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari.

The film is being helmed by Nitesh Tiwari, and the first teaser of the film will be unveiled on April 2 while the movie will be released in theaters on Diwali.