The promotional campaign for Nitesh Tiwari‘s much-awaited ‘Ramayana‘ kicked off in the US over the weekend, with the film’s cast and makers attending San Diego Comic-Con for a panel discussion and select interviews. During the event, Yash, who plays Ravana, spoke candidly about stepping into a role that has been portrayed by countless actors over the decades.
Yash admits to ‘pressure’ while playing Ravana
In an interview with IGN, Yash joined co-star Ranbir Kapoor, director Nitesh Tiwari, and producer Namit Malhotra. Speaking about taking on Ravana, he said, “As a kid, we have all heard this story. (It’s) probably the first story I have heard. My grandfather used to tell me these stories. You have your imagination and you have seen so many people depicted this in many ways. So what do you bring in as an actor, and what is your understanding of the character was challenging. Thankfully, my director and writers have given me that space so I could play this character in a different way.“Yash also admitted that the weight of previous portrayals added pressure to his performance. He added, “If you know the character and everybody is aware of it, then it becomes challenging. If it’s a new film where you are telling a new story, whatever you do, that will become the character. But if people already have some image about it since so many people have played it in different ways, then it’s extra pressure for an actor. But I stuck to very simple basics to understand what made him do such kind of things. The intent was important. I have given a different take on it and hopefully people will like it.”
‘Ramayana’s legacy on screen
The ‘Ramayana’ remains one of the oldest and most enduring epics globally, having been adapted into films, TV shows, and musicals hundreds of times in India. Some of its most iconic on-screen portrayals include Telugu icon NT Rama Rao’s version in the 1960s and Arvind Trivedi’s performance in the 1988 television series.
More about Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, ‘Ramayana’ is a two-part epic, with the first instalment releasing in theatres this November. Alongside Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Yash as Ravana, the film stars Sai Pallavi as Sita, along with Ravie Dubey, Sunny Deol, Rakul Preet Singh, Lara Dutta, Arun Govil, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor, and a large ensemble cast.
