‘Ranbir Kapoor Doesn’t Fit as Ram’: Ram Gopal Varma’s Grandson Shiv Sagar Praises Yash as Ravana
Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s much-awaited Ramayana: Part 1 has already triggered a new debate even before the film releases theatrically. Shiv Sagar, grandson of legendary television filmmaker Ramanand Sagar, is not happy with Ranbir playing Ram, and at the same time he praises Yash for Ravana’s appearance and performance.
Ramayana: Part 1 is one of the most awaited Indian films currently being made. Makers want to present the epic on a massive cinematic canvas, and they’re planning to release it worldwide during the Diwali festive season. The recently released promotional material has already created a lot of curiosity among audiences.
However, Shiv Sagar’s comments have added another dimension to the casting debate. He says that Ranbir Kapoor is difficult for him to accept as Lord Ram because he has a strong image from his previous film (Animal).
Shiv Sagar Questions Ranbir Kapoor’s Casting as Ram
Shiv Sagar is said to have felt that an actor with a relatively new screen image would have been better for Lord Ram. He feels people should be able to see the character without being distracted by associations of an actor’s past roles.
Ranbir’s performance in Animal was the talk of the town because of the intense, controversial character he played in the film. Shiv Sagar thinks that the image created by such a role could make it difficult for some viewers to accept him as Lord Ram immediately.
From a commercial point of view, however, Ranbir is still one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, and his casting could make the film box-office and marketing-wise attractive. They may have taken his popularity and acting ability into account while choosing the cast for the ambitious project.
Yash Gets Praise for Ravana Role
While Shiv Sagar has been critiquing Ranbir’s casting, he reportedly praised Yash, who plays Ravana in the film. He says that the KGF star’s look and screen presence fit the character very well.
Yash’s casting as Ravana has been one of the most talked-about things in Ramayana. He already had a strong screen persona through the KGF franchise, but his transformation for the mythological epic has got people talking.
Shiv Sagar also praised Sai Pallavi (who plays Sita), saying both Yash and Sai Pallavi look well suited to their roles.
These differing opinions about the casting demonstrate what a special challenge it is to translate an epic for modern audiences. Lord Ram isn’t just any fictional character; he has cultural and religious meaning for millions of people, and expectations are therefore very high when it comes to his portrayal.
‘Ram Is More Than Just a Mythological Character’
Shiv Sagar’s point is that Lord Ram should not be treated as just another movie character. He reportedly said Ram has a sacred place in Indian tradition, and the audience may expect the actor playing him to have a screen image that does not carry strong negative associations.
He said commercial factors may have been involved, but ultimately the audience will decide.
This debate is important because Ramayana has already been adapted many times for television and cinema. Ramanand Sagar’s iconic TV series is still so deeply associated with the epic that an entire generation will be comparing any new portrayal to this one.
A Mega-Scale Adaptation
Ramayana is reportedly being made on a mega scale with Namit Malhotra and Yash associated with the production. Internationally renowned music directors A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer have been roped in for Ramayana too, adding to expectations about its technical and musical presentation.
The film has a star-studded cast, ambitious visual effects and a globally recognised creative team, so it’s trying to bring the Indian epic to a contemporary worldwide audience.
Ultimately, whether Ranbir Kapoor is Lord Ram or not will be decided by audiences when the film releases in theatres. Yash’s Ravana too will have huge expectations because of the scale of the project and his popularity.
For now, Shiv Sagar’s comments have revived the debate on casting in mythological cinema. Ramayana: Part 1 is inching towards its much-awaited theatrical release, so everyone will be watching to see whether Nitesh Tiwari can satisfy modern moviegoers and audiences who are well versed with the epic.
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