After months of anticipation, the trailer of Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana: Part 1’ has finally been unveiled. The ambitious mythological epic has received a mixed response online. While many viewers have applauded its scale and visual grandeur, others have raised concerns over certain aspects of the film, with Ranbir Kapoor’s casting as Lord Rama emerging as one of the biggest talking points.A section of social media users believes the actor is not the ideal choice for the role, prompting widespread discussion following the trailer’s release.Ranbir recently responded to the criticism while promoting ‘Ramayana’ at San Diego Comic-Con alongside director Nitesh Tiwari, producer Namit Malhotra and co-star Yash. Speaking to Review Nation, the actor admitted that his first reaction to being offered the role was one of self-doubt, as he questioned whether he was worthy of portraying such a revered figure.“The first question that popped into my head was, am I worthy? Am I the right person and why am I being gifted this responsibility to not play Lord Rama but represent him? But very soon you understand the value, the responsibility and the noble intention of the filmmakers to present the story, which has been relevant for 4,000 years. It’s deeply ingrained in our subconscious. So I don’t think there’s a right actor to play Lord Rama.”Ranbir said that because every devotee has their own understanding and image of Lord Rama, no single actor can meet everyone’s expectations. In his view, what truly matters is the performer’s sincerity, belief and respect for the character’s journey.“All the people who have watched Ramayana, they all have their own interpretation of Lord Ram. There is no fixed face to it. Many people will probably feel like I am the wrong casting. Some people will say I am the right casting. But the honest truth is that the right casting for Ram would be any actor who has the right intentions and who has belief and faith in the journey of Lord Ram.”Yash, who essays Ravana in the film, also praised Ranbir’s commitment to the role during the same interview. He described portraying Lord Rama as one of the toughest challenges an actor can undertake and commended his co-star’s dedication.“It’s not easy to play Lord Ram. The way Ranbir Kapoor has done it is marvellous. He has worked incredibly hard, and when you watch Ramayana, you’ll witness a beautiful portrayal of Rama filled with intent and sacrifice.”Ever since the trailer dropped, Ranbir’s portrayal of Lord Rama has remained a major topic of discussion across social media platforms. While some fans have expressed excitement, others continue to question whether the actor’s screen presence suits the iconic character.One user wrote, “Although I love Ranbir Kapoor and admire his work but seeing him as Shri Ram just feels too odd. Can’t picture him in that role, and even hearing him speak fluent hindi in this character feels off. Maybe they should’ve cast someone whose screen presence naturally fits the image of Shri Ram.”Another commented, “I had doubts about Ranbir’s Hindi even before any Ramayana asset got released. He is very good for urban roles but in these roles, he feels like a miscast.”Interestingly, ‘Ramayana’ will feature Ranbir in a double role, as he is set to portray both Lord Rama and Lord Parshurama. Speaking to Collider, the actor revealed that he differentiated the two incarnations through their emotional depth, spirituality, body language and vocal expression.“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. I think as an actor, apart from body language, I think if you deeply understand the spirituality and the emotionality of the characters, I think everything starts from there. I think that’s what I did the year leading up to the shoot of Ramayana, to understand who these people and characters are, what they stand for and what their motives are.”Planned as a two-part epic, ‘Ramayana’ is slated to hit theatres with its first instalment during Diwali 2026. The film also stars Sai Pallavi as Sita and Sunny Deol as Hanuman.
