The casting of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s highly anticipated Ramayana has sparked a storm of discussions — and veteran actor Mukesh Khanna has stepped right into the heart of it. Known for his legendary portrayals of Bhishma Pitamah in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat and as India’s first television superhero Shaktimaan, Khanna isn’t convinced that Ranbir can convincingly carry the serene yet morally supreme image of Maryada Purushottam.
The Controversial First Glimpse
The first teaser, unveiled in July 2025, showed AI-generated visuals of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama — climbing trees, leaping through the air, and shooting arrows. While fans were impressed by the high-end VFX and Yash’s menacing Ravana, Khanna was left unsettled.
“They’re showing Lord Rama climbing trees and shooting arrows. Krishna or Arjuna might do that, but Rama would not. If Rama declared himself a warrior, he would never have sought the help of monkeys. He was sufficient, one man against Ravana,” Khanna stressed.
Khanna’s Concerns: More Than Just Action Scenes
- Image Hangover from “Animal” – Khanna believes Ranbir’s recent intense and violent role in Animal still lingers in the public’s mind, making it harder for audiences to see him as the calm, dharmic Lord Rama.
- Philosophical Misrepresentation – He fears that portraying Rama as a high-octane action hero could dilute the deeply revered Maryada Purushottam image.
- Potential for Controversy – “If you provoke, you’ll get into trouble,” he warned, hinting at possible public backlash if artistic liberties go too far.
Star Cast and Release Plans
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, the epic also stars:
- Sai Pallavi as Sita
- Ravie Subey as Lakshman
- Sunny Deol as Hanuman
- Yash as Ravana
The magnum opus will be told in two parts — Diwali 2026 and Diwali 2027.
Beyond Ramayana: Mukesh Khanna’s Current Projects
Khanna recently debuted in Gujarati cinema with Vishwaguru (released August 1, 2025) and is set to reprise Shaktimaan in an upcoming audio series by his company, Bheeshma International.
The Larger Debate
Khanna’s comments have reignited the age-old tension between creative interpretation and religious-cultural sensitivity. While some argue that cinema must modernise mythological storytelling, others — like Khanna — believe that altering core traits of deities risks alienating audiences.
With the Ramayana release still more than a year away, the question remains: Will Ranbir’s Lord Rama win hearts, or will image and interpretation stand in the way?
By – Nikita