Ranbir Kapoor Said NO to Lord Rama — Until His Baby Daughter Raha Changed Everything About Ramayana!

This is the kind of behind-the-scenes revelation that makes a film feel even more special before it releases. Ranbir Kapoor — one of Bollywood’s most celebrated actors — openly admitted at a promotional event in New York that he immediately turned down the role of Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s epic Ramayana when producer Namit Malhotra first approached him nearly four years ago. What changed? His newborn daughter, Raha.

For more Bollywood news and big film updates, visit our entertainment section at TechnoSports.

Ramayana — Key Film Details

The Story Behind Ranbir’s Initial Refusal

When Namit Malhotra approached Ranbir for the role around 2022, the actor’s gut reaction was decisive — and self-doubting. He felt he wasn’t physically or spiritually prepared enough for a character as divine and morally complex as Lord Rama, the central figure of one of India’s greatest ancient epics. He genuinely believed he wouldn’t do the role justice, and said no on the spot.

But then life intervened in the most beautiful way. Ranbir became a father for the first time when Alia Bhatt gave birth to their daughter Raha. Something shifted within him — deeply and permanently. At the New York event, he shared with visible emotion that the timing of becoming a father and being offered this role felt like a meaningful coincidence. Playing Lord Rama, a figure celebrated for righteousness, fatherhood, and devotion, aligned perfectly with a phase of personal transformation Ranbir was going through as a new parent.

He described the preparation as not just physical — which was obviously immense — but also emotional and spiritual. His love and reverence for the Ramayana story, he said, made everything else fall naturally into place.

What to Expect from the Film

Ramayana is a two-part mega-production boasting one of the most ambitious casts assembled for a Hindi film — featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, Rakul Preet Singh, Raghav Juyal, Vivek Oberoi, Lara Dutta, Arun Govil, and many others. The film’s teaser, titled Rama, was previewed to an exclusive international audience in Los Angeles before releasing publicly on April 2, 2026, timed to Hanuman Jayanti. Part 2 is currently filming with Ranbir and Sunny Deol already on set.

Keep track of all Ramayana updates, cast news, and release dates through our Bollywood entertainment coverage at TechnoSports.

FAQs