Did you shoot with Hanuman? Ranbir Kapoor on how Raha reacted to his Ramayana role

Ranbir Kapoor shared that his daughter Raha is fascinated by his role in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, often asking him if he shot scenes with Hanuman. Ranbir plays Lord Rama in the upcoming film.

In Short

• Ranbir Kapoor’s daughter Raha curiously asks about Hanuman scenes
• Ranbir initially declined the role of Lord Rama due to self-doubt
• Becoming a father changed Ranbir’s perspective on the role

Ranbir Kapoor recently shared a heartwarming moment involving his daughter, Raha, and her reaction to the epic Ramayana. The actor revealed that Raha often asks him if he has shot scenes with characters like Hanuman while he is working on the film.

Since the teaser release of director Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, fans have praised Ranbir’s portrayal of Lord Rama. The film’s makers held a grand teaser screening in Los Angeles for a select audience, followed by a session with fans and the media. It was during this event that Ranbir talked about how becoming a father coincided with his role in the film.

Speaking with AP, Ranbir explained that playing Lord Rama while sharing Ramayana stories with his three-year-old daughter has been a special experience. He said Raha is deeply engaged and curious, often asking questions like, “Did you shoot with Lord Hanuman today?” or “What did you do today?”

He said, "I was extremely blessed to have this opportunity that coincided with me becoming a father. On one side, I am going to work and play Lord Rama, but I am also going home and telling my daughter, Raha, stories about Ramayana. Just to see a 3-year-old so engaged and asking me, ‘Did you shoot with Lord Hanuman today? Or Sita today? What did you do today?'"

When Ranbir declined role in Ramayana

Interestingly, Ranbir initially declined the role of Lord Rama. He felt he wouldn't be able to do justice to the character. However, the birth of his daughter brought a change in perspective. He recalled that when the offer came four years ago, his first response was to say no, feeling unprepared for such a significant role.

Ranbir said that his initial fear soon turned into gratitude. He was at a point in his life when he needed a new direction. Becoming a father and playing Lord Rama came together as a turning point, giving him the motivation to take on the challenge.

About Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana

Ramayana is produced by Namit Malhotra. The two-part film franchise reportedly has a combined budget of Rs 4,000 crore and is said to be the most expensive Indian film ever. The film features an ensemble cast including Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, along with Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Arun Govil, Kunal Kapoor, Adinath Kothare, Sheeba Chaddha, and Indira Krishnan.

The first part of Ramayana is scheduled for October 2026 while the second part will follow in 2027.

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