Ramayana Part -1: Nitesh Tiwari Reveals the Magic Behind Casting Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama

Ramayana Part 1 is gearing up to become one of   the biggest releases of 2026. Starring Ranbir Kapoor in the lead, the film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari, who, during a special screening and interaction in New York City, revealed why the actor was his only choice to play Lord Ram.

Why Tiwari chose Kapoor

Appearing at the event alongside Kapoor and producer Namit Malhotra, the filmmaker described Lord Ram as a deeply nuanced character who required inner strength, and physical presence. “Lord Ram was a man of few words. His love was unbound. His pain could not be seen but it could be felt. His courage needed a lot of physicality,” he said, adding that “this role was really demanding and so we felt that there was nobody better than Ranbir Kapoor to portray all these things and manage the expectations of a billion people.”

Not modernising Ramayana

The director, when asked about whether the film attempts to modernise the ancient epic, clarified, saying, “I would not say that we made a conscious effort to make it into a modern tale or something.”

He emphasised that the story’s core values are timeless. “The essence of Ramayana lies in the values which it holds. Those values are universal and timeless. I do not need to modernise it anyway. What has happened is the world has forgotten those values; it’s time we remind them and maybe a film like this will make the world a better place,” he added.

Ranbir Kapoor on his role

Earlier, during his appearance in Los Angeles event, the actor opened up about his character and called Lord Ram a guiding force across generations. “Lord Rama has been the conscience keeper of billions of people around the globe for centuries and long after,” Kapoor shared. “He will continue being so long after we have gone. He enlightens us about the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversities. He stands for compassion, courage, righteousness, and forgiveness. He is called Maryada Purushottam, which stands for the ideal man.” (Agencies)

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