‘Can’t accept Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama’: Ramanand Sagar’s grandson Shiv Sagar says ‘fresh face’ was needed in Ramayana
Can t accept Ranbir Kapoor as Rama: Shiv Sagar Speaks
Bharatmorning.com – The phrase "Can t accept Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama" has become shorthand for a brewing cultural debate in Indian cinema. Shiv Sagar, grandson of the late Ramanand Sagar, told ANI that the casting of Ranbir Kapoor at the centre of Nitesh Tiwari's two-part Ramayana film clashes with what he calls the need for a "fresh face" in sacred storytelling. His comments arrive against the backdrop of his grandfather's 1987 Doordarshan serial Ramayan and its sequel Lav-Kush, productions that shaped how an entire generation visualised the epic's characters on screen.
Why a Grandson's Objection Carries Extra Weight
Ramanand Sagar's television adaptation did not merely entertain; it became the default visual grammar for millions of Indian households. Arun Govil, who embodied the exiled prince in that serial, became so inseparable from the deity that audiences still associate the two. In the new film, Govil has been recast as King Dashrath — a choice that itself signals how deeply the original serial's casting remains lodged in the public mind. When Shiv Sagar voices discomfort with a new interpretation, he speaks from within that lineage, and his words land differently than a generic critic's would.
His specific objection centres on what he terms "baggage": the accumulated screen associations an audience carries into a theatre. He singled out the 2024 film Animal, in which Kapoor portrayed a volatile, physically aggressive character, as the role that makes the mental shift to a serene, dharma-bound Rama feel impossible for many viewers.
"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."
Conceding the Marketing Reality
Shiv Sagar was careful not to frame his remarks as a personal attack. He acknowledged that a studio of this scale operates under commercial imperatives and that a marquee name can determine whether a project reaches its intended audience.
"We have seen Ranbir in different roles; he is a very good actor. Personally, I don't have anything against him. I think they must have taken him for the project because they want a marketing push, and maybe if they didn't take Ranbir, the film wouldn't have been marketed so well, so that's also something to think about, but I personally believe that for such characters, it's better to take a new face."
The tension he names is not new. Indian mythological filmmaking has long oscillated between casting unfamiliar performers who appear to step out of the text itself and relying on established stars whose names drive ticket sales. Sagar's 1987 serial, made under modest television budgets, inadvertently resolved the dilemma in favour of the former: relatively unknown actors like Govil became icons precisely because audiences had no prior associations to override.
Praise for the Supporting Ensemble
While his criticism targeted the lead, Shiv Sagar was generous toward the remainder of the cast. He highlighted Yash, the Kannada star chosen as Ravana, and Sai Pallavi, who will portray Sita, noting that neither carries the kind of recent high-profile associations that complicate audience reception.
"You can take a very strong supporting cast, like Yash is looking very good, Sai Pallavi is looking very good, they don't have that much baggage. He has a lot of baggage. That's why we usually take a new face in our serials, so they don't have any baggage or history."
Ultimately, Shiv Sagar deferred the question to viewers. He described the public as "the king," insisting that his personal preference would be irrelevant if cinema-goers embraced the interpretation once the film reaches theatres. The controversy, in his framing, remains open until the audience renders its verdict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shiv Sagar and why is his opinion notable? Shiv Sagar is the grandson of Ramanand Sagar, the director of the landmark 1987 Doordarshan serial Ramayan. His remarks carry cultural weight because he speaks from within the lineage that defined how millions of Indians first saw the epic on screen.
What exactly does he object to about the casting? He objects to the notion that an actor whose recent, high-profile roles — particularly the 2024 film Animal — have cemented a specific screen persona can be seamlessly reimagined as the tranquil, dharma-bound figure of Rama. He advocates for a "fresh face" with no prior associations.
Does he dislike Ranbir Kapoor as an actor? No. In his ANI interview he explicitly stated he has "nothing against" Kapoor and called him "a very good actor." His objection is structural — about audience perception and the difficulty of overriding established screen associations — not personal.
Who else is in the cast of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana? Among the announced cast are Arun Govil as King Dashrath, Yash as Ravana, and Sai Pallavi as Sita. Shiv Sagar praised the supporting selections while reserving his criticism for the lead.