Ramayana: Ranbir Kapoor responds to backlash over Lord Ram casting at Comic-Con

Actor Ranbir Kapoor addressed criticism over his casting as Lord Ram during Ramayana's San Diego Comic-Con showcase. He said the role depends on intention, belief and faith, as audiences will hold different views.Ranbir Kapoor shares his take on people questioning his casting as Lord Ram in Ramayana. Actor Ranbir Kapoor has responded to criticism over his casting as Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari's much-anticipated film Ramayana. Speaking at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, where the film team unveiled its global showcase, the 43-year-old said people will have different interpretations of the character and that there is no fixed face to Lord Ram.Ranbir was joined at the event by director Nitesh Tiwari and co-star Yash, who will play Raavan. He said some people may feel he is the wrong choice for the role, while others may see him as the right one, adding that, for him, the right actor to play Ram is someone with the right intention, belief and faith in Lord Ram's journey.At the Comic-Con interaction, Ranbir said, "They all have their own interpretation of Lord Ram. There is no fixed face to it. Many people will probably feel like I am the wrong casting." He added, "Some people will say I am the right casting. But the honest truth is the right casting for Ram would be any actor who has the right intentions and who has belief and faith in the journey of Lord Ram."Ranbir and Yash brought the excitement around Ramayana to San Diego Comic-Con 2026, where the team presented the film's global showcase. Ahead of the panel, the two actors appeared at the pop culture convention and pictures from the event quickly ,circulated online. Ranbir wore a bandhgala with dark sunglasses and an Indian flag lapel pin, while Yash was seen in a black suit. The two also posed for cameras and interacted with the media before joining the discussion.Yash praises Ranbir's portrayalDuring the conversation, Yash spoke about Ranbir's performance as Lord Ram and the work that went into the role. Calling it a difficult part, the 40-year old said, "It's not easy to play Lord Ram. The way Ranbir Kapoor has done it is marvellous. He has worked incredibly hard, and when you watch Ramayana, you'll witness a beautiful portrayal of Rama filled with intent and sacrifice." In another moment from the event, Yash spoke about the vision behind the mythological epic and the importance of intent.He said, "I think intent is the most important thing. You need to have the right intent and team. When we started off with the right intent, then everything will fall in place. The story itself has got so many aspects where we started figuring out several aspects of life. Technically, it was challenging, from make-up to looks, but eventually, when you try to tell a story, we give it our all to tell the story in the most authentic way. I think we have been able to do it in quite a good manner, is what I believe."About the filmThe official San Diego Comic-Con synopsis for Ramayana states, "In an age of gods and kings, the fate of worlds hangs in the balance. Rama, a prince bound by duty, sacrifice and the greater good, must face Ravana, an immortal ruler driven by pride and vengeance, powerful enough to shatter the cosmos."The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The first part is scheduled to release in theatres during Diwali 2026, while the second part is set to arrive in 2027.- EndsPublished By: Priyanka SharmaPublished On: Jul 27, 2026 12:06 IST