Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama in director Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming multi-part adaptation of the Indian epic has sparked debate among traditional industry voices. Shiv Sagar, grandson of legendary filmmaker Ramanand Sagar—the visionary behind the historic 1987 television serial Ramayan—has publicly voiced strong reservations regarding this casting decision. While acknowledging the Bollywood star's acting pedigree, Sagar emphasized that stepping into such a sacred figure demands an actor without the heavy visual baggage of conflicting cinematic roles.
Speaking on the subject, Sagar noted that casting choices for divine figures carry immense responsibility due to the emotional and spiritual attachment Indian audiences hold toward their faith and history.
Ranbir Kapoor As Lord Rama Sparks Debate Over Prior Image Baggage
The primary point raised by Shiv Sagar centers on the strong contrast between Ranbir Kapoor's recent characters and the serene aura expected of Lord Rama. In particular, he cited the actor's intense, morally transgressive performance in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s box-office blockbuster Animal as a major obstacle for traditional viewers.
"Except for that one casting, I like the rest of the casting very much. Personally, I cannot accept Ranbir Kapoor as Ram after Animal. When I look at Ram ji, I feel that a fresh face should have been taken. You can take a very strong supporting cast, like Yash is looking very good, Sai Pallavi is looking very good, they don't have that much baggage. He has a lot of baggage. That's why we usually take a new face in our serials, so they don't have any baggage or history."
Sagar clarified that his assessment is not a technical critique of Kapoor's acting capabilities. Instead, he suggested that the production team likely pursued an established superstar to ensure massive promotional momentum and global box-office visibility.
Why Tradition Often Demands An Unexposed Face In Epics
The philosophy of casting lesser-known actors in sacred roles stems directly from the approach popularized by Ramanand Sagar in the late 1980s. When Arun Govil took on the role of Lord Rama, his relative anonymity allowed the audience to view him purely as the embodiment of the character, without distracting associations from commercial movies.
Sagar noted that cultural narratives in India are treated with deep personal reverence rather than mere fictional interest. "This is not mythology. In the West, we call it mythology; even in India, it is called mythology, but it is our history. People worship them every day; he is our history," he pointed out, explaining why sudden shifts in on-screen identity challenge conventional audience perceptions.
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Praise For Supporting Roles And The Ultimate Audience Verdict
While questioning Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Shiv Sagar expressed confidence in other key casting decisions for the production. He commended the selection of Kannada star Yash as Ravana and Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, stating that both actors bring cultural familiarity and less conflicting screen history to their roles. The ensemble also includes veteran actor Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Ravi Dubey as Lord Lakshman, and Arun Govil himself as King Dashrath, establishing a direct link back to the 1987 television classic.
Kapoor, for his part, had previously acknowledged the weight of the assignment during public interactions, noting that representing Lord Rama carries immense responsibility and that individual audience interpretations of the character will naturally vary.
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Sagar conceded that personal opinions from industry veterans will ultimately take a back seat once the film arrives in cinemas. As he noted, the paying audience remains the final judge, and the theatrical response will determine whether moviegoers embrace this modern interpretation of the timeless epic.
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