Ramayana director Nitesh Tiwari reveals why he chose Ranbir Kapoor to portray Lord Rama: 'There was nobody better'
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Ramayana director Nitesh Tiwari reveals why he chose Ranbir Kapoor to portray Lord Rama: 'There was nobody better'")
Nitesh Tiwari on why he chose Ranbir Kapoor for Lord Rama Photograph: (Instagram)
Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana has been creating a buzz since its announcement. The director has recently opened up about why he chose Ranbir Kapoor to play Lord Ram. Read on to know more.
Ramayana Part 1 is gearing up to become one of the biggest releases of 2026. Starring Ranbir Kapoor in the lead, the film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari, who, during a special screening and interaction in New York City, revealed why the actor was his only choice to play Lord Ram.
Why Tiwari chose Kapoor
Appearing at the event alongside Kapoor and producer Namit Malhotra, the filmmaker described Lord Ram as a deeply nuanced character who required inner strength, and physical presence. "Lord Ram was a man of few words. His love was unbound. His pain could not be seen but it could be felt. His courage needed a lot of physicality," he said, adding that "this role was really demanding and so we felt that there was nobody better than Ranbir Kapoor to portray all these things and manage the expectations of a billion people."
Not modernising Ramayana
The director, when asked about whether the film attempts to modernise the ancient epic, clarified, saying, "I would not say that we made a conscious effort to make it into a modern tale or something."
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He emphasised that the story’s core values are timeless. "The essence of Ramayana lies in the values which it holds. Those values are universal and timeless. I do not need to modernise it anyway. What has happened is the world has forgotten those values; it's time we remind them and maybe a film like this will make the world a better place," he added.
Ranbir Kapoor on his role
Earlier, during his appearance in Los Angeles event, the actor opened up about his character and called Lord Ram a guiding force across generations. "Lord Rama has been the conscience keeper of billions of people around the globe for centuries and long after," Kapoor shared. "He will continue being so long after we have gone. He enlightens us about the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversities. He stands for compassion, courage, righteousness, and forgiveness. He is called Maryada Purushottam, which stands for the ideal man."
Also Read: Ramayana Part I: Nitesh Tiwari's magnum opus screened in Los Angeles months before release
About Ramayana
The film features a star-studded cast with Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. Makers confirmed that the first glimpse of Ramayana Part 1 will be released on April 2. Meanwhile, the film is expected to hit theatres during Diwali 2026.
