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Ranbir Kapoor’s highly anticipated film Ramayana has been one of the most talked-about projects in Indian cinema. The film’s producer Namit Malhotra recently sat down with spiritual leader Sadhguru to discuss how challenging it can be for an actor to fulfill the expectations of people when portraying a widely worshipped deity. Ranbir plays the lead role of Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s directorial.
Sadhguru admitted that Ranbir carries the burden of ‘unrealistic expectations’ from the audience as he steps into the divine role. However, he also emphasised that the actor should imbibe certain qualities of Lord Ram during the making of the film.
Sadhguru said, “If they have sense, they should become (a little like Maryada Purshottam). It’s an opportunity that you get to play the role of Rama, so you’d better transform yourself. When will you do it in your life? At the same time, there will be a certain unrealistic expectation.”
The spiritual leader gave the example of Telugu cinema icon NT Rama Rao, who faced a similar challenge but also gained immense advantage from it. He said, “There was NT Rama Rao in Telugu films, who people worshipped as Krishna because he played him in some 15-16 movies. They put huge cutouts of him playing the flute, and he won the election outright. At one time, it was absolutely so. To some extent, it is still there.”
Sadhguru went on to give blunt advice to Ranbir. “If you act like Rama in a movie, I expect you to have some gentleness. But it’s unfair to the actor because, after all, it’s a profession. He’s just acting. Hope acting like Rama brings some elements of him into the actor, which will be wonderful for him but it’s an unrealistic expectation,” he said.
Ranbir has had to deal with prejudice as many pointed out that he isn’t fit to play Lord Ram, citing his old interviews and statements. Sadhguru sided with the Barfi! star in this matter and acknowledged that the actor is merely doing his job. “It is not a fair judgment because he acted in some way (in the past). Tomorrow, in another movie, he may act as Ravana. That is a professional actor. But at the same time, your movie runs because of people, not because of actors or directors. So, their expectations cannot be completely brushed aside. It’s a very onerous expectation, but I think the actor and director making Ramayana should imbibe a bit of Ram’s quality,” he said.
About Ramayana
Ramayana is touted as the most expensive Indian film project ever undertaken, with Namit revealing that the two-part saga would cost around Rs 4,000 crore. The film features some of the biggest names in the Indian film industry — Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, Vivek Oberoi, Ravi Dubey, and others. Veteran actor Arun Govil, who famously played Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar’s iconic TV show Ramayan, will portray King Dasharatha in the film. Sunny Deol will essay the role of Hanuman, while Sai Pallavi will play Sita. The first part of Ramayana is slated to release in theatres on Diwali 2026.
