Ranbir Kapoor is carrying the weight of a legend on his shoulders. In an exclusive conversation, the actor delves into the monumental task of bringing the ancient Indian epic Ramayana to the big screen, a project he boldly compares to the cinematic scope of The Lord of the Rings. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, the two-part film is one of the most ambitious productions in Indian cinema history, slated for release in 2026.
A Role of a Lifetime
Kapoor takes on the dual challenge of portraying both Lord Rama, the divine prince destined to battle the demon king Ravana (played by Yash), and the warrior sage Parshuram. He admits the responsibility was initially overwhelming. "There was a lot of fear," Kapoor confesses, reflecting on the period leading up to filming. "It's the greatest epic from my country. To represent this story is a blessing, but nobody can truly represent him. You have to surrender to the character." He reveals he even turned down the role at first, a decision he later reversed after grasping the project's profound significance.
An Epic for the Global Stage
Promoting the film has meant a whirlwind global tour for Kapoor, who recently traveled from the set in India to Los Angeles. Despite the grueling schedule, his passion is palpable. "When you're so proud of something, you want to travel the world and share the message," he says. He is adamant that Ramayana is crafted for the largest canvas possible, urging audiences to experience its six hours of epic action and visuals in IMAX. "It's nothing less than Lord of the Rings," Kapoor states, positioning the film as India's grand answer to the world's most celebrated mythological sagas. He believes the universal themes and life lessons within the story will resonate with a global audience, much like the cross-cultural success of films like RRR.
The star-studded cast includes Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. Kapoor teases that filming for the second part is already halfway complete for his scenes, promising that it's "even more exciting" than what has been revealed so far.
From Fan to Star
Kapoor's perspective is uniquely shaped by his lifelong passion for cinema. He proudly calls himself a "movie geek," having watched a film a day for 35 years. This fandom led to memorable, sometimes comical, encounters with his idols. He shares stories of being "shooed away by Natalie Portman," getting a famous gesture from Quentin Tarantino, and waiting for hours to see Al Pacino. These experiences inform how he interacts with his own fans today. "I feel a lot of gratitude, sometimes disbelief," he says. Coming from a fourth-generation film family, he adds, "I've seen immense success and failure around me, which really balanced me out early on."
This grounding seems crucial for an actor embarking on a career-defining project. The film's expansive story, penned by Shridhar Raghavan, depicts a universe where heaven and earth near chaos, requiring the god Vishnu to descend as Rama to restore balance. Kapoor sees it as more than just entertainment; it's a cultural milestone. For those unfamiliar with the tale, he promises a sweeping emotional journey filled with timeless lessons, now presented with scale that aims to rival the greatest global epics. It's a ambitious vision, akin to other bold reimaginings in entertainment, like Stephen Colbert's 'Shadow of the Past' Adapts Lost 'Lord of the Rings' Chapters or the fresh take promised in the Exclusive: 'Reunion' Trailer Drops for 2026 Festival Darling.
As the release draws closer, Kapoor's mission is clear: to introduce this foundational story to the world with the grandeur it deserves. With his dedication and the film's colossal production, Ramayana is poised to be a cinematic event of mythic proportions.
