The announcement of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Rocking Star Yash as Ravana, and Sai Pallavi as Sita in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana sent fans into a frenzy. Leaked set images only added to the hype, and last month’s teaser — showing Ranbir sprinting up a tree and firing an arrow — had audiences curious for Ramayana: Part 1. But for veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, the first look missed the mark.

Speaking to Galatta India, the Shaktimaan star said, “You are depicting Ram climbing a tree and shooting arrows. That is something Krishna or Arjuna might do, but not Ram. If Ram were depicted as a warrior, he would not have sought the help of monkeys; he would have fought Ravana single-handedly. If Ram is described as a warrior, people will not accept it.”

While acknowledging Ranbir’s talent, Khanna noted, “Ranbir is a good actor, but he carries the image of an animal from his previous roles. I have no objection to him playing Ram, but if you portray Ram as a warrior, the audience will not accept it. Ram humbly accepted his 14-year exile, ate Shabri’s berries, and did not engage in bow and arrow combat.”

Khanna has also been making headlines for his stance on the upcoming Shaktimaan film. In a recent interview, he revealed that Ranveer Singh spent three hours trying to convince him to pass on the mantle — but he refused. While Ramayana: Part 1 is slated for a Diwali 2026 release, the Shaktimaan reboot is yet to be officially confirmed.