Can't accept Ranbir as Ram: Ramanand Sagar's grandson raises concern over Ramayana

Actor Ranbir Kapoor’s casting as Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana has once again sparked discussion, with Shiv Sagar, grandson of filmmaker Ramanand Sagar, sharing his reservations about the choice. Ramanand Sagar created the iconic 1987 television series Ramayan, and Shiv believes the role of Lord Rama called for an actor without a strong image from previous films.Shiv said he personally finds it difficult to picture Ranbir as Lord Ram after watching his performance in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal. However, he clarified that his comments were not about Ranbir’s acting abilities but about the image an actor carries from their previous work.“Except for that one casting, I like the rest of the casting very much. Personally, I cannot accept Ranbir Kapoor as Ram because after Animal, I cannot accept him as Ram. When I look at Ram ji, I feel that a fresh face should have been taken,” Shiv Sagar said, as per ANI.Ranbir played Ranvijay Singh in Animal, a character portrayed as violent and aggressive. Shiv feels that the actor’s image from the film could make it difficult for some viewers to accept him in the role of Lord Ram. His comments come amid continued interest in the casting of Ramayana, one of the most anticipated upcoming projects. While Shiv expressed his reservations about Ranbir’s casting, he said he liked the rest of the casting choices.Co-produced by Prime Focus and Yash's Monster Mind Works, Ramayana will be released in two parts, with the first due in cinemas during Diwali this year and the second next year.The cast includes Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha, Arun Govil as King Dasharatha, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Indra Krishnan as Sumitra, Vivek Oberoi as Vidythjiva, Shobana as Kaikesi, Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari, Kunal Kapoor as Indra, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara, and Anupam Kher as the voice of Jatayu, among others.- EndsPublished By: Prachi aryaPublished On: Sep 8, 2026 12:57 IST