Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Mukesh Khanna Questions Ranbir Kapoor’s Lord Ram Portrayal
Mukesh Khanna has shared concerns about the way Lord Ram is shown in the upcoming film ‘Ramayana’.
He feels Ram looks too much like an action hero.
Khanna believes Ram should be shown as Maryada Purushottam, a respectful and ideal figure.
He questioned a scene where Ram climbs a tree and shoots arrows.
He said he does not remember this kind of scene from the ‘Ramayana’.
He also wondered why Ram would need the Vanar Sena if he fought all battles alone.
Khanna said the film’s special effects may appeal to people around the world.
But he believes Indian audiences will focus more on their faith and cultural understanding of Ram.
Mukesh Khanna criticized Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming film ‘Ramayana’.
Khanna said the trailer presents Ram more as an action hero than as Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram.
He questioned a scene showing Ram climbing a tree and shooting arrows, saying he had not seen it in the epic.
Khanna argued that portraying Ram as an intensely heroic fighter raises questions about why he needed the Vanar Sena.
He said Indian viewers would judge the film through their religious and cultural connection to Lord Ram, not only its visual effects.
- Who
- Actor Mukesh Khanna criticized Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’.
- What
- Khanna objected to the film’s action-oriented presentation of Ram and questioned some trailer scenes and its visual-effects approach.
- When
- The comments were made during the film’s early promotional period.
- Where
- Khanna discussed the film in an interview with Bollywood Now on YouTube.
- Why
- He believes Ram should be portrayed primarily as Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram, reflecting Indian religious and cultural expectations.
Traditional portrayal
Action-oriented adaptation
How Lord Ram should appear
Traditional portrayal
Mukesh Khanna believes Ram should be portrayed as Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram, emphasizing dignity, restraint and his divine status.
Action-oriented adaptation
The film’s trailer, as described by Khanna, presents Ram with a more powerful, action-hero-style image.
Battle sequences
Traditional portrayal
Khanna questioned whether scenes such as Ram climbing a tree and shooting arrows accurately reflect the ‘Ramayana’.
Action-oriented adaptation
The film appears to use large-scale action and visual spectacle in its presentation of Ram’s battles.
Use of visual effects
Traditional portrayal
Khanna said Indian viewers may focus less on special effects and more on whether the film respects their faith and cultural connection to Ram.
Action-oriented adaptation
Khanna acknowledged that extensive visual effects could help the film appeal to international audiences and create a spectacle comparable to ‘Star Wars’.
- Film
- ‘Ramayana’
- Director
- Nitesh Tiwari
- Ram’s portrayal
- Ranbir Kapoor
- Critic
- Mukesh Khanna
- Main concern
- Khanna said Ram appears more like an action hero than Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram.
- Questioned scene
- Ram climbing a tree and shooting arrows
- Cultural concern
- Khanna said Indian audiences would assess the film through their religious and cultural connection to Ram.