Ranbir Kapoor’s upcoming portrayal of Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana has been one of the most discussed and debated castings in recent times. The actor, who is known for transforming himself into his roles, from Sanju to Animal, now faces a unique challenge: living up to the faith and expectations of millions of devotees. While the film is still a year away from release, the conversations around it have already begun, not just among fans but also among spiritual leaders.
Sadhguru on 'unrealistic expectations' from Ranbir in Ramayana
In a recent interaction with Ramayana producer Namit Malhotra, spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev weighed in on the growing scrutiny surrounding Ranbir’s casting. The two discussed the immense responsibility that comes with playing divine figures such as Lord Rama, Lord Hanuman, and Goddess Sita. Sadhguru opened up about how these roles go beyond acting; they often demand a spiritual transformation from the performer.
Speaking about the expectations from Ranbir, Sadhguru said that if an actor gets the chance to play Lord Rama, he should take it as an opportunity to evolve and embody some of Rama’s virtues. He noted that while it’s a demanding task, it can also be a deeply rewarding one. At the same time, he admitted that the public’s expectations can sometimes become unrealistic, given that an actor’s job is, after all, to portray a character, not become it entirely.
Drawing a parallel from Indian cinema’s past, Sadhguru recalled the example of legendary Telugu actor N.T. Rama Rao, who was revered for his performances as Krishna in several films. He pointed out that the audience’s devotion to such portrayals even translated into real-life admiration and political success for NTR. “When someone plays a role like Rama, people naturally expect a certain grace and gentleness,” Sadhguru said, adding that such expectations, though powerful, can be unfair to actors who are professionals performing diverse roles.
Addressing the criticism directed at Ranbir for his earlier work, particularly in Animal, Sadhguru called it “an unfair judgment.” He explained that it’s wrong to equate an actor’s past characters with their personal nature. “Tomorrow, the same actor might play Ravana. That’s his job,” he remarked. However, he also acknowledged that audiences are an integral part of any film’s journey, “A movie runs because of people, not because of actors or directors,” he said — and therefore, their emotions cannot be ignored entirely.
Sadhguru concluded by saying he hopes that Ranbir and the team working on Ramayana internalise some of the essence of the epic and of Rama’s ideals. “If playing Rama brings even a little bit of his compassion and balance into the actor’s life, it will be a beautiful thing,” he said.
More about the film Ramayana
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Raavana, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. The film also features Vivek Oberoi, Rakul Preet Singh, Lara Dutta, Kajal Aggarwal, and Kunal Kapoor. The first instalment, Ramayana: Part 1, is slated for a Diwali 2026 release.
Sadhguru on 'unrealistic expectations' from Ranbir in Ramayana
In a recent interaction with Ramayana producer Namit Malhotra, spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev weighed in on the growing scrutiny surrounding Ranbir’s casting. The two discussed the immense responsibility that comes with playing divine figures such as Lord Rama, Lord Hanuman, and Goddess Sita. Sadhguru opened up about how these roles go beyond acting; they often demand a spiritual transformation from the performer.Speaking about the expectations from Ranbir, Sadhguru said that if an actor gets the chance to play Lord Rama, he should take it as an opportunity to evolve and embody some of Rama’s virtues. He noted that while it’s a demanding task, it can also be a deeply rewarding one. At the same time, he admitted that the public’s expectations can sometimes become unrealistic, given that an actor’s job is, after all, to portray a character, not become it entirely.
Drawing a parallel from Indian cinema’s past, Sadhguru recalled the example of legendary Telugu actor N.T. Rama Rao, who was revered for his performances as Krishna in several films. He pointed out that the audience’s devotion to such portrayals even translated into real-life admiration and political success for NTR. “When someone plays a role like Rama, people naturally expect a certain grace and gentleness,” Sadhguru said, adding that such expectations, though powerful, can be unfair to actors who are professionals performing diverse roles.
Addressing the criticism directed at Ranbir for his earlier work, particularly in Animal, Sadhguru called it “an unfair judgment.” He explained that it’s wrong to equate an actor’s past characters with their personal nature. “Tomorrow, the same actor might play Ravana. That’s his job,” he remarked. However, he also acknowledged that audiences are an integral part of any film’s journey, “A movie runs because of people, not because of actors or directors,” he said — and therefore, their emotions cannot be ignored entirely.
Sadhguru concluded by saying he hopes that Ranbir and the team working on Ramayana internalise some of the essence of the epic and of Rama’s ideals. “If playing Rama brings even a little bit of his compassion and balance into the actor’s life, it will be a beautiful thing,” he said.