Ranbir Kapoor On Why He Initially Said No To Playing Lord Ram And How Fatherhood Changed His Mind

The excitement around Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana has been at an all-time high, especially with Ranbir Kapoor set to play Lord Ram. However, during a recent event in New York, Ranbir made a surprising revelation that he initially turned down the role. Speaking alongside director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra, he opened up about his early hesitations and the personal milestones that eventually led him to say yes.

When the role was first proposed to him about four years ago, Ranbir’s immediate reaction was one of apprehension. He admitted that he didn’t feel prepared for the gravity of the character. He shared, "I remember when Namit offered me this part around 4 years ago, my instant reaction was 'No', I'm not fit enough, not good enough, and I won't be able to do full justice.” He explained that the fear of not living up to the legendary stature of Lord Ram made him decline the offer at first. However, that fear soon transformed into a sense of purpose.

#RanbirKapoor when #NamitMalhotra offered him Prabhu Shree Ram's role 4 years ago ... #Ramayana pic.twitter.com/IMbMgROkEn

The shift in Ranbir’s perspective coincided with a major life event of becoming a father. Ranbir and Alia Bhatt married in April 2022 and welcomed their daughter, Raha, in November of the same year. According to him, the timing of the film offer and the birth of his daughter felt like a sweet coincidence that he needed. He revealed, "That fear very quickly turned into gratitude because opportunities like this were needed very much in my life. I was in a period in my life where I needed to change my life and lifestyle. I became a father for the first time. I think the sweet coincidence of playing Lord Ram and becoming a father was needed for a turning point in my life.”

To prepare for the role, Ranbir looked back at the cultural impact of Ramanand Sagar’s iconic Ramayana series. He mentioned that the story is etched in the consciousness, making the preparation process deeply personal. Ranbir explained, "When I had the opportunity to essay him, of course, there is a lot of preparation, not just physical, it's emotional and spiritual. It's about understanding it and being very truthful.” He added that his deep respect for the story helped everything fall into place.

The film, which features a star-studded cast including Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, is one of the most awaited releases. With a musical score by Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman, Ramayana Part One is scheduled for a worldwide release in October 2026, just ahead of Diwali. Fans can look forward to a new glimpse of the film on April 2, coinciding with Hanuman Jayanti.


Also Read: Pictures: Here’s how Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor celebrated Ranbir’s birthday