Ranbir Kapoor, who is gearing up for his next release, the mythological epic Ramayana, recently opened up about his reservations about playing the role of Lord Rama when he was first approached for the project and how his daughter Raha’s birth was actually instrumental in him assenting for the part.
Speaking during a Q&A session during an IMAX trailer screening for the film in New York, Ranbir recalled his first reaction when producer Namit Malhotra approached him with the project.
“Coming to play Lord Ram, I remember when Namit offered me this part around four years back, my instant reaction was: ‘I am not fit enough, good enough.’ I felt I wouldn’t be able to do full justice. But that fear quickly turned into gratitude because opportunities like this were something I truly needed in my life,” he said.
He added that the timing coincided with the birth of his daughter. “There was a period when I needed to change my lifestyle. I had just become a father for the first time. The sweet coincidence of playing Lord Rama and becoming a father became a turning point in my life.”
Ranbir also spoke about the kind of preparation that went into the role. “For me, the preparation began the day I watched Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana. It is so deeply etched in our subconscious and rooted in us that we feel immense pride in Lord Rama’s journey. When I got the opportunity to portray him, I knew the preparation had to go beyond the physical—it had to be emotional and spiritual. One has to be truthful to the character, because he is loved by billions across centuries and will continue to be long after we are gone,” he said.
He concluded by expressing gratitude for the opportunity. “The responsibility is something I take very seriously. I have immense love and respect for this part and for the story of Ramayana. When that conviction is in place, everything else falls into place.”
Apart from Ranbir, Ramayana also stars Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the first glimpse of ‘Rama’ will be unveiled by the makers on April 2.
