Why Arun Govil believes Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana faces an uphill battle

Actor Arun Govil said his long association with Lord Rama shaped reactions to Ranbir Kapoor's first Ramayana glimpse. He also explained why he hesitated before joining the film as Lord Dasharath.

In Short

• Govil said his television portrayal remains deeply embedded in public memory
• He noted that Rama's pictures at fairs still often carry his face
• The actor said he initially resisted playing Dasharath in the Ranbir Kapoor starrer

Actor Arun Govil, who is still closely identified with Lord Rama because of Ramanand Sagar’s television series Ramayan, has spoken about the comparisons surrounding Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana. Govil is part of the new film as King Dasharath, Rama’s father.

In a recent interview with Variety India, Govil said the reaction to Ranbir’s first glimpse was shaped by the lasting impact of his own performance. He expressed that his version of Rama had become a benchmark for many viewers.

“Nobody wants to see another Rama,” he said, adding that his Ramayan still plays regularly somewhere or the other, and that even today, in parts of North and Central India, pictures of Rama sold at melas and tamashas often carry his face. Because of that emotional connection, Govil said it does not feel right for him to comment on another actor’s performance as Rama.

Why Govil agreed to join the film

Govil said he was hesitant when the role was first offered to him. "Yes, in Ramayana, I’m playing King Dashrath, Lord Rama’s father. Had I felt it wasn’t right, I would not have done it. To be honest, initially, I didn’t want to do this role. But Nitesh Tiwari, the director, was insistent. They wanted some connect between our Ramayan and this Ramayana," the actor said.

His view on Ranbir Kapoor as Rama

Govil stopped short of judging Ranbir Kapoor’s work before the film’s release. “As Rama, I won’t be able to tell you anything about him, but he is a good actor, there is no doubt about that. He is also a fine human being,” Govil said. He added that every actor approaches a character in a different way and said Ranbir must have played Lord Rama in his own unique way.

The larger weight of the project

The film remains one of the most talked-about titles of the year and also stars Sai Pallavi, Yash, Sunny Deol and Ravie Dubey. Tiwari had earlier said that adapting the Ramayana came with “a lot of moral responsibility”. Producer Namit Malhotra later shared a clip of that conversation, which drew fresh attention online.

The first part of the film is set to release on Diwali 2026.

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