Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Ramayana casting debate echoes Hrithik Roshan's 2008 Legend of Rama
The Ramayana is a very famous old story from India.
People are now making it into a big two-part movie.
Ranbir Kapoor will play Lord Ram, the hero of the story.
Sai Pallavi will play Sita and Yash will play the villain Ravana.
Some people are not sure Ranbir is the right person for the role.
Long ago, in 2008, another movie plan was made for the same story.
That movie was called The Legend of Rama, and Hrithik Roshan was going to play Ram.
That movie was never actually made.
Ranbir says no actor can be called the 'right' Ram, because everybody imagines him differently.
He says what matters is that the actor has good intentions and faith in Lord Ram's journey.
Nitesh Tiwari's two-part Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, has sparked casting debate before its release.
In 2008, filmmaker Sanjay Khan announced The Legend of Rama, a modern cinematic Ramayana adaptation reportedly budgeted at Rs 50 crore.
The 2008 project considered Hrithik Roshan for Lord Rama, Zayed Khan for Lakshman and Amitabh Bachchan for King Dashrath, co-scripted by Sanjay Khan and Farrukh Dhondy.
Farrukh Dhondy described the planned film as the 'Ramayan in modern format' in 'The Lord Of The Rings genre', but The Legend of Rama never made it to the screen.
Addressing critics at San Diego Comic-Con, Ranbir Kapoor said there is 'no right actor to play Lord Rama' and that sincerity, faith and intention matter most.
- Who
- Director Nitesh Tiwari, actors Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash; earlier proposed cast Hrithik Roshan, Zayed Khan and Amitabh Bachchan, with filmmaker Sanjay Khan and author Farrukh Dhondy.
- What
- A two-part Ramayana film epic is in production amid a casting debate over who should play Lord Rama, recalling a stalled 2008 project titled The Legend of Rama.
- When
- The upcoming film is yet to be released; Ranbir Kapoor addressed the debate at San Diego Comic-Con; the earlier project was announced in 2008.
- Where
- India, where the film is being made, and San Diego Comic-Con, where it was promoted.
- Why
- The Ramayana is a story revered for 4,000 years, and casting an actor to represent Lord Rama has sparked questions about who is worthy of the role.
Casting critics
Supporters and filmmakers
Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama
Casting critics
Many people feel Ranbir Kapoor is the wrong casting for Lord Rama, as every devotee has their own image and fixed understanding of the deity that he may not match.
Supporters and filmmakers
Others say he is the right casting; Ranbir argues there is no right actor to play Lord Rama and that sincerity, faith and intention matter more than a fixed face.
- Film
- Ramayana (two-part epic)
- Director
- Nitesh Tiwari
- Lead cast
- Ranbir Kapoor (Lord Ram), Sai Pallavi (Sita), Yash (Ravana)
- Producer
- Namit Malhotra
- Music
- Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman
- Abandoned 2008 project
- The Legend of Rama
- 2008 budget
- Rs 50 crore
- 2008 proposed cast
- Hrithik Roshan (Rama), Zayed Khan (Lakshman), Amitabh Bachchan (Dashrath)