Before Ranbir Kapoor, this famous member of the Kapoor family played Lord Ram
Prithviraj Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama Photograph: (WION)
A 92-Year-old legacy comes full circle with Ramayana. Ranbir Kapoor is not the first Kapoor to play Lord Rama on screen. Turns out the actor's great-grandfather, the legendary actor Prithviraj Kapoor, had also played the mythological figure in a film.
Ranbir Kapoor is all set to return to the big screen in 2026 with his much-anticipated film Ramayana, where he will step into the role of Lord Rama. Interestingly, this marks a full-circle moment for his family, as 92 years ago, one of his ancestors portrayed the same iconic character on screen.
On the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti 2026 (April 2), the makers unveiled the teaser of Ramayana, offering audiences their first glimpse of Ranbir as Lord Ram. The teaser, with a runtime of 2 minutes and 38 seconds, generated quite a buzz on the internet upon its release.
Also read: Ramayana: Ranbir Kapoor’s first look as Lord Rama unveiled- What we know about the cast so far
Ranbir’s great-grandfather played the same character 92 years ago
What makes Ranbir’s casting as lord Ram even more special is its deep-rooted cinematic history. Back in 1933, the film Seeta, directed by Debaki Bose, brought the story of Ramayana to life on screen. Produced by East India Film Company, it was a landmark Bengali talkie that went on to achieve global recognition. The film earned an honorary diploma at the Venice International Film Festival in 1934, making it the first Indian talkie to be showcased at an international film festival.
Notably, the role of Lord Ram in Seeta was played by Prithviraj Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor’s great-grandfather. He starred opposite Durga Khote as Sita, alongside actors like Gul Hamid and Trilok Kapoor.
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This unique casting across generations brings a sense of legacy and nostalgia, as the Kapoor family once again brings Lord Ram to life on the big screen. Nearly a century after Prithviraj Kapoor’s portrayal, Ranbir Kapoor now takes on the same revered role in a grand retelling of the epic.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana boasts a powerful ensemble cast including Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. The film will be released in two parts, with the first instalment slated for Diwali 2026, followed by Ramayana: Part 2 in Diwali 2027.
