Hrithik Roshan was reportedly considered for the role of Ravana in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana before the makers approached Yash for the character. However, Hrithik did not take up the role, and the reason is linked to his preference for the kind of characters he wants to play. The makers of Ramayana, featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, wanted a prominent actor for Ravana, one of the key characters in the epic. Hrithik was among the names considered for the part, given his screen presence and experience in handling roles with negative shades. However, things did not move forward, and Yash eventually came on board to play Ravana.
Hrithik’s decision was reportedly influenced by his reluctance to take up another role involving a mythological character with strong negative shades. He had already played the anti-hero in Vikram Vedha and portrayed a character with grey shades in War. The actor was also said to be careful about repeating similar character arcs and wanted to choose roles that offered something different. Yash, meanwhile, was keen to explore Ravana as a character with several layers rather than portraying him as a conventional villain. Ramayana is being directed by Nitesh Tiwari, with Ranbir Kapoor playing Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi portraying Sita. The first installment of Ramayana will release in theatres on November 5th, 2026.