Snehashish roy
Actor Gajendra Chauhan, best known for playing Yudhishthira in B.R. Chopra’s iconic Mahabharat, has shared his reservations about casting established Bollywood stars in mythological roles, specifically addressing Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming Ramayana.
In an interview with Hindi Rush, Chauhan said actors playing revered mythological characters should ideally not have an already established public image. He argued that audiences may find it difficult to separate a popular actor from the characters they have previously portrayed.
“When you are playing a mythological character, you can’t have an image,” Chauhan said, explaining that actors associated with earlier roles bring those associations with them when they take on mythological characters.
Chauhan drew from his own experience playing Yudhishthira in Mahabharat. He recalled that although he had already worked in around 25 television serials, he was not a widely recognised star when he was cast in the show. According to him, this helped audiences accept him primarily as Yudhishthira rather than as Gajendra Chauhan.
He contrasted that with the current Ramayana, which features some of India’s biggest film stars. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi portrays Sita and Yash plays Ravana, while Sunny Deol has been cast as Hanuman. The film also features several other prominent actors in important roles.
Chauhan specifically questioned whether a star’s existing public persona can coexist comfortably with the image of a deeply revered mythological figure.
“If you are playing a pious character like this, you can’t have an image; you can’t be too exposed in public,” he said. His comments appear to be based on the belief that actors who are constantly visible through films, advertisements and public appearances may find it harder to establish a completely new identity as a mythological character.
The actor’s comments come amid considerable discussion over Ranbir Kapoor’s casting as Lord Ram. Kapoor’s previous roles, particularly his controversial character in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal, have been repeatedly brought up by critics debating whether he is the right choice for the role.
However, Chauhan stopped short of criticising Kapoor’s actual performance. In fact, he praised the actor’s appearance in the film’s trailer, saying that Kapoor looked the way he imagined Lord Ram would look.
“He’s looking good,” Chauhan said, while adding that he would reserve his judgement on Kapoor’s performance until the film reaches theatres.
The debate over casting is not new in Indian mythological cinema. Chauhan also recalled an earlier proposal for a star-studded Mahabharata featuring Amitabh Bachchan as Bhishma, Hrithik Roshan as Karna and Aamir Khan as Krishna. According to him, that project never materialised.
His reference to the shelved project underlines his broader argument that placing established stars in mythological roles can create a different viewing experience from casting relatively unknown actors.
The new Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is being mounted on an ambitious scale and will be released in two parts. The film’s trailer has generated significant interest for its visual effects, production scale and star cast. The first instalment is scheduled to arrive in theatres in 2026, with the second part planned for 2027.
The trailer has already triggered extensive discussion around the casting and visual interpretation of the epic. While Ranbir and Sai Pallavi have received attention for their portrayals of Ram and Sita, Yash’s Ravana has also emerged as one of the most discussed aspects of the film.