Cinema VinesRanbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming Ramayana has sparked debate, and the criticism has come from a surprising source – Shiv Sagar, the grandson of the legendary filmmaker Ramanand Sagar who created the 1987 Doordarshan epic. After the teaser and first look were released, many fans felt Kapoor was the right fit, but others questioned his suitability. Shiv Sagar has now weighed in, arguing that Kapoor’s previous roles, especially the violent character he played in Animal, could bring unwanted baggage to the sacred role of Rama.
In a statement quoted by ANI, Shiv Sagar said, “Except for that one casting, I like the rest of the casting very much. Personally, I cannot accept Ranbir Kapoor as Ram because after Animal, I cannot accept him as Ram. When I look at Ram ji, I feel that a fresh face should have been taken.” He added that while Kapoor is a talented actor, the choice was likely driven by marketing considerations and that a new face would better serve the character’s purity.
Shiv Sagar praised the rest of the ensemble, noting that Yash as Ravana and Sai Pallavi as Sita bring “strong supporting cast” without the baggage he associates with Kapoor. He explained that in his serials he prefers fresh faces to avoid pre‑existing audience expectations. However, he conceded that ultimately the audience’s reception will decide the success of the casting.
The two‑part film, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, will feature Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, Ravie Dubey, and Sunny Deol in lead roles, with Arun Govil returning as King Dashrath. Part One is slated for a November theatrical release, with the second part planned for Diwali 2027.
