After months of anticipation, the trailer of Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana: Part 1’ has finally been unveiled. The ambitious mythological epic has received mixed online responses. While many viewers have applauded its scale and visual grandeur, others have raised concerns over certain aspects of the film, with Ranbir Kapoor’s casting as Lord Rama emerging as one of the biggest talking points.
A section of social media users believes the actor is not the ideal choice for the role, prompting widespread discussion following the trailer’s release.
Ranbir recently responded to the criticism while promoting ‘Ramayana’ at San Diego Comic-Con alongside director Nitesh Tiwari, producer Namit Malhotra and co-star Yash. Speaking to ‘Review Nation’, the actor admitted that his first reaction to being offered the role was one of self-doubt, as he questioned whether he was worthy of portraying such a revered figure.
“The first question that popped into my head was, ‘Am I worthy? Am I the right person and why am I being gifted this responsibility not to play Lord Rama but represent him?’ But very soon you understand the value, the responsibility and the noble intention of the filmmakers to present the story, which has been relevant for 4,000 years. It’s deeply ingrained in our subconscious. So, I don’t think there’s any right actor to play Lord Rama,” he said.
Ranbir said that because every devotee has their own understanding and image of Lord Rama, no single actor can meet everyone’s expectations. In his view, what truly matters is the performer’s sincerity, belief and respect for the character’s journey.
“All the people who have watched ‘Ramayana’, they all have their own interpretation of Lord Ram. There is no fixed face to it. Many people will probably feel like I am the wrong casting. Some people will say I am the right casting. But the honest truth is that the right casting for Ram would be any actor who has the right intentions and who has belief and faith in the journey of Lord Ram,” he shared.