Imtiaz Ali says Ranbir Kapoor can bring reality to the character of Lord Ram in 'Ramayana': 'It will be beneficial for him'

Imtiaz Ali who has worked with Ranbir Kapoor in 'Rockstar' and 'Tamasha' has now expressed excitement to see him as Lord Ram in 'Ramayana'. Imtiaz believes the role will not only showcase the actor’s talent but also leave a lasting impact on him as a person.

Imtiaz spoke highly of Ranbir’s ability to adapt to diverse characters. Sharing his thoughts on the actor’s casting, he said in an interview with Filmibeat, "Ranbir can do anything as an actor. He should do different roles, and when he does different roles, he'll become them. He is a pure actor, and I hope he does all kinds of roles. I am very happy he is doing Lord Rama's role because he can bring a certain effect or reality to the character. It will be nice to approach Lord Rama's character in a humane and personal way."





The director further explained why portraying Lord Rama could be a transformative experience for Ranbir. According to him, actors often absorb qualities from the characters they play, and this role could be particularly enriching.

"It'll be hugely beneficial for Ranbir to have played Rama because he is the kind of actor [who] imbibes from the character. He will take from Rama, and that will be so enriching for him," Imtiaz added.

The recently released teaser of Ramayana gave audiences their first glimpse of Ranbir as Lord Rama. While many viewers praised his appearance and screen presence, others questioned whether he was the ideal choice for the iconic role.

Interestingly, Ranbir will not only portray Lord Rama in the film but will also take on the role of Lord Parshurama. Speaking about the opportunity in an interview with Collider, the actor shared, "Lord Vishnu had different avatars. Lord Rama was an avatar, and Lord Parshurama was an avatar before Lord Rama. Just to get the opportunity, you know, how I got to play Lord Rama, to also play Lord Parshurama was fantastic.”

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Yash and Namit Malhotra, Ramayana is being mounted as one of the biggest cinematic projects in Indian film history. The star-studded cast includes Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The epic saga will unfold across two films, with the first part scheduled for a Diwali 2026 release, followed by the second instalment on Diwali 2027.