Sadhguru Backs Ranbir Kapoor’s Role in Ramayana: ‘An Actor Doesn’t Need to Be Ram to Portray Ram’

Spiritual leader Sadhguru has spoken out in defence of actor Ranbir Kapoor amid criticism over his casting as Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s much-anticipated Ramayana.

For months, a section of social media users has questioned Ranbir’s suitability for the divine role, citing his past controversies. Addressing the backlash during a recent conversation with producer Namit Malhotra, Sadhguru called the outrage “unfair” and misplaced.

“People are pulling out things from the past and asking how Ranbir Kapoor could play Shri Rama in Ramayana,” Malhotra said, to which Sadhguru responded, “It’s an unfair judgment of an actor because he acted in some way in the past. You can’t expect him to become Ram. Tomorrow in another movie, he may act as Ravana.”

The spiritual leader also weighed in on Yash’s casting as Ravana, adding, “Yash is a handsome man.” Malhotra agreed, saying, “Yash is a very handsome man and an incredibly talented superstar. We want to show all shades of Ravan—his devotion, his depth—which only Yash can bring out.”

Ranbir’s Lifestyle Changes for Ramayana
Reports earlier this year suggested that Ranbir Kapoor has made significant lifestyle adjustments for his role. The actor is said to be following a strict sattvic diet, early-morning fitness routines, and regular meditation sessions to align with the spiritual nature of Lord Ram. He has reportedly quit alcohol and turned vegetarian.

Ramayana: Part One Update
According to reports, filming for Ramayana: Part One was completed in June 2025. Director Nitesh Tiwari has locked the final edit, and the team is now focused on intensive VFX work that is expected to continue for nearly 300 days.

“The first round of VFX is already done, and the team is now working on the final post-production phase,” a source told Pinkvilla.

The epic retelling of the Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana, marking one of the most ambitious mythological adaptations in Indian cinema to date.