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Actor Ranbir Kapoor says understanding the philosophy and teachings of Lord Rama was far more important than undergoing a physical transformation for his role in the upcoming mythological epic Ramayana.
Speaking at a special Ramayana panel during San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, Ranbir said portraying one of Indian mythology’s most revered figures required deep spiritual and intellectual preparation rather than just physical training. He was joined by co-star Yash, director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra.
“I always feel that making a body or preparing for action and dance is easy because that is superficial. But to really understand the philosophy of Lord Rama deeply at this age and this point in my life was really important to embody this character,” Ranbir said.
The actor said he wanted to portray Lord Rama with simplicity so that people of all generations could relate to the character.
Ranbir revealed that he spent two years preparing for the role by reading extensively, consulting scholars and practicing yoga and meditation under the guidance of a spiritual mentor named Suvir.
“I read a lot, met with a lot of scholars. I practiced yoga for two years. I had a guru called Suvir who used to sit and meditate with me for hours to get me really close to the teachings of Lord Rama,” he said.
He added that studying the many versions and interpretations of the Ramayana helped him better understand the character.
The film features Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha, alongside Kunal Kapoor, Arun Govil, Lara Dutta and Vivek Oberoi.
Planned as a two-part saga, Ramayana Part 1 is scheduled for release during Diwali 2026, while Part 2 will hit theatres in Diwali 2027.
