Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana remains one of the most anticipated films in Indian cinema. Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, the grand mythological epic has been in the limelight ever since it was officially announced. The buzz intensified further after the reveal of film's teaser, which sparked massive excitement among audiences and industry circles alike.
Adding a special touch to Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious project is the casting of veteran actor Arun Govil, whose portrayal of Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar’s iconic television series Ramayan is forever etched in the hearts of millions of Indians.
What did Arun Govil say about Ranbir Kapoor's casting as Lord Rama?
In a recent conversation with Variety India, Arun Govil was asked about Ranbir Kapoor's casting as Lord Ram, a character that became synonymous with Govil's own cherished legacy over the years. While he refused to share his views on Ranbir's performance before the film's release, he expressed complete faith in actor's capabilities and talent.
"As Rama, I won't be able to tell you anything about him, but he is a good actor, there is no doubt about that. He is also a fine human being. As I said earlier, every actor pursues every character in their own way. And he must have played Lord Rama in his own unique way," he said.
How did he react to the backlash?
Arun Govil was also asked about the backlash that surfaced online after Ramayana's first look was unveiled. Addressing comparisons surrounding Ranbir's portrayal, the veteran actor shared that such reactions happened from the lasting impact of his own performance of Lord Ram, which has had on audiences.
"That perhaps is also because my performance as Lord Rama became the touchstone. It is still alive in the hearts and minds of people. Nobody wants to see another Rama. You know, my Ramayan keeps playing somewhere or the other at any given time. Even today in North and Central India, whenever there are melas and tamashas and photos of Rama are sold, they have my face on them. So, for me, to talk about an actor's performance as Lord Rama doesn't feel right," he said.
Why did Arun Govil initially say no to Ramayana?
During the conversation, Arun Govil also revealed why he initially refused the role of King Dashrath in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana. The veteran actor said, ''Had I felt it wasn’t right, I would not have done it. To be honest, initially, I didn’t want to do this role. But Nitesh Tiwari, the director, was insistent. They wanted some connect between our Ramayan and this Ramayana."
What do we know about Ramayana's star cast, release date?
Ramayana is helmed by Nitesh Tiwari and backed by Namit Malhotra. Made on an exceeding budget of Rs 4000 crore, this large-scale spectacle features Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, Arun Govil, Sunny Deol, Ravi Dubey, Lara Dutta, Rakul Preet Singh and several other prominent names in key roles. The film will be released in two instalments, first part to hit theatres during Diwali 2026 and the other will be out in 2027.