During a recent conversation with producer Namit Malhotra, Sadhguru addressed the criticism surrounding Ranbir’s role. Malhotra mentioned that many people were questioning how Ranbir could portray Lord Ram given his past statements and film choices. Responding to this, Sadhguru said, “It’s unfair to judge an actor based on the roles they’ve played earlier. If he’s playing Ram today, do you expect him to become Ram in real life? Tomorrow, the same actor might even play Ravana.”
The hour-long discussion between Sadhguru and Malhotra was uploaded to Sadhguru’s official YouTube channel. During their conversation, Sadhguru also spoke about Yash, who will play Ravana in the film, saying, “Yash is a good person.” Malhotra added that they wanted to present Ravana not merely as a villain but as a knowledgeable and complex figure — a portrayal Yash was perfectly suited for.
Meanwhile, controversy continues to surround Ranbir’s casting. Many social media users have opposed his selection for the role of Lord Ram, citing an old interview from 2011 in which Ranbir mentioned that he enjoys eating beef. This remark resurfaced online and reignited outrage, with some claiming that such an actor should not portray a sacred character.
The controversy isn’t new — in 2022, Ranbir and Alia Bhatt were stopped by protesters from entering Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar temple during the promotion of Brahmāstra because of the same statement. Critics, including veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, have also questioned his suitability, saying, “After playing characters like the one in Animal, audiences won’t be able to see him as Ram.”
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, and Yash as Ravana. Reportedly, Sunny Deol will play Lord Hanuman, Lara Dutta will appear as Kaikeyi, Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, and Arun Govil — the original Ram from the 1980s TV series — will portray King Dasharath.
The film will be released in two parts — the first on Diwali 2026 and the second on Diwali 2027. Its first-look teaser, released in July, showcased a visually stunning 3-minute-4-second sequence featuring Ranbir as Lord Ram and Yash as Ravana, highlighting their intense face-off.
Ramayana is being produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios and Oscar-winning VFX company DNEG, with Yash’s Monster Mind Creations as co-producer. The movie is being shot for large-format screens such as IMAX.
Adding to the excitement, the film’s music will be composed jointly by two Oscar-winning legends — A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer — marking their first collaboration. Hollywood stunt experts Terry Notary (Avengers, Planet of the Apes) and Guy Norris (Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa) are choreographing the film’s epic battle sequences, promising a world-class cinematic experience.
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