Mukesh Khanna Questions Ranbir Kapoor's Casting As Lord Ram In Ramayana: 'Not Sure If He Can Embody Maryada Purshottam'

Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna has shared his reservations about Ranbir Kapoor playing Lord Ram in the upcoming epic Ramayana, particularly in light of the actor’s recent image following his 2023 film Animal, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. During one of his latest interviews, Khanna criticised certain creative choices and questioned Ranbir's ability to portray the revered figure of Maryada Purshottam.

Speaking to Gallata India, the Shaktimaan actor said, "They're depicting Ram as someone who climbs trees and shoots arrows. Krishna or Arjuna might do that, but Rama wouldn't. If Rama considered himself a warrior, he would never rely on monkeys for assistance. He stood alone, one man against Ravana," Khanna remarked.

For those unversed, the first glimpse video of the Nitesh Tiwari-directorial introduced Ranbir as Lord Ram. He was also shown climbing a tree in a blink and miss appearance.

The actor went on to state, "From my perspective, I’m not sure if Ranbir can embody the Maryada Purshottam persona of Rama. He’s a talented actor, but he carries an image with him, and that’s Animal. I have no issues with that. He might be able to do it."

Khanna also expressed doubts over whether the two-part saga would set new benchmarks at the box office, given current industry trends.

The first look of Ramayana was unveiled by the makers on July 3, revealing Ranbir as Lord Ram and Yash as Ravana. The video has generated buzz online, with fans praising the actors' appearances and expressing excitement for the film's release.

The ambitious project also features Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha, and Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari.

Produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana will be released in two parts - the first part is scheduled to release during Diwali 2026, while the second will follow in Diwali 2027.