Apart from external criticism, Ranbir Kapoor had to confront his own fears before and during his portrayal of 'lord Ram' in 'Ramayana: The Rise of Legend'.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleRamayana: The Rise of Legend was released on November 5, 2026, and Nitesh Tiwari's biggest project has been praised by audiences. Made on a budget of Rs. 4,000 crore, Ramayana is one of the biggest Bollywood movies in recent years.
Ranbir Kapoor plays the role of 'Ram', while Sai Pallavi is seen as 'Sita' and Yash essays the role of 'Ravana'. The movie has grabbed significant attention and positive responses so far, and viewers have remained stuck with Yash's portrayal of 'Ravan', and it's even being tagged as one of the main highlights.
Ranbir Kapoor's emotional depth in the movie has also been praised. On the other hand, Nitesh Tiwari way of retelling the epic has also grabbed attention. While the responses are good, some of the opposing thoughts are there as well. Ranbir Kapoor has long been criticised for being cast as 'Ram' in the movie. While there has always been external criticism, the actor was also surrounded by his inner fears, which he had to overcome.
During the promotional event, Ranbir Kapoor talked about the same. Ranbir revealed that if he is doing some mainstream commercial cinema, there remains a certain amount of creative freedom, whereas in movies like Ramayana, there's absolutely no room for that. Ranbir Kapoor further talked about drowning out inner fears about pleasing others with the performance. Speaking about the importance of believing in the story, Ranbir Kapoor said:
"If I’m playing a character like in Animal or Brahmastra, there’s a certain amount of creative freedom. But here, the text has been written thousands of years ago, so you try to stick to it. You have to drown out those inner voices of fear. Thoughts about whether you are going to please one community or another can creep into your work. You have to believe in the story, have devotion towards it and then keep your performance simple."
During the same conversation, Ranbir Kapoor revealed a certain kind of pressure that comes when someone is essaying an important role, a god, to be exact. Surely, there are expectations on an actor playing the role, and they come in several forms, including their look, behaviour, how they carry themselves, and more.
Ranbir was hit by the same thought process in his mind, and he admitted that it leads someone to take themselves too seriously. He further talked about the fears that he grappled with. Ranbir was filled with fears, and he even wondered whether he was too old for the role and whether he would be able to do justice to the role.
However, even though the actor had all these going on in his mind, he was also aware of the fact that it was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of opportunity. Ranbir talked about the way actors need to make others believable as human beings and give them vulnerability and real emotions. In Ranbir's words:
"Absolutely. That’s exactly what happened to me. I was filled with fear. I wondered whether I was too old for the role and whether I would be able to do justice to it. I had so many insecurities and questions about myself. But the opportunity was right in front of me, and I knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I was also very aware of the kind of reactions it would invite."
Ramayana: The Rise of Legend is an epic mythological film by Nitesh Tiwari that was released on November 5, 2026, and it is one of India's most expensive films. Part 1 of the film has been released, while Part 2 is said to be released in 2028. The movie, as of now, has received a good response and reportedly collected Rs. 20 crore by 12 noon on the release day, with massive ticket sales hinting at a great start, as reported.
What do you think about Ranbir Kapoor's revelation?
Also Read: 'Ramayana' Ending Explained, Post Credits Scene Made Audience Go Wild, What To Expect From Part 2