Arun Govil Addresses Ranbir Kapoor Backlash Over Ramayana: ‘Nobody Wants to See Another Rama’

Veteran actor Arun Govil has spoken about the criticism and comparisons surrounding Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Rama in Ramayana, saying his own performance in Ramanand Sagar’s television classic remains deeply embedded in the public imagination.

Govil, who played Lord Rama in the iconic Ramayan series and is set to portray King Dasharath in Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming film, said audiences continue to associate the character with his portrayal decades later.

“That perhaps is also because my performance as Lord Rama became the touchstone. It is still alive in the hearts and minds of people. Nobody wants to see another Rama,” Govil said.

Arun Govil on Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama

While declining to comment on Ranbir Kapoor’s performance before the film’s release, Govil expressed confidence in the actor.

“As Rama, I won’t be able to tell you anything about him, but he is a good actor, there is no doubt about that. He is also a fine human being. As I said earlier, every actor pursues every character in their own way. And he must have played Lord Rama in his own unique way,” he said.

Govil noted that his version of Ramayan continues to be broadcast regularly and remains closely associated with the image of Lord Rama for many viewers.

“You know, my Ramayan keeps playing somewhere or the other at any given time. Even today in North and Central India, whenever there are melas and tamashas and photos of Rama are sold, they have my face on them. So, for me, to talk about an actor’s performance as Lord Rama doesn’t feel right,” he added.

Why Arun Govil Joined Ramayana

Govil also revealed that he was initially reluctant to take up the role of King Dasharath in the film.

“Yes, in Ramayana, I’m playing King Dashrath, Lord Rama’s father. Had I felt it wasn’t right, I would not have done it. To be honest, initially, I didn’t want to do this role. But Nitesh Tiwari, the director, was insistent. They wanted some connect between our Ramayan and this Ramayana,” he said.

The casting of Govil is seen as a bridge between Ramanand Sagar’s widely celebrated television adaptation and the new big-screen retelling.

Ranbir Kapoor to Play Two Roles

The discussion around the film gained further attention after Ranbir Kapoor revealed that he will portray both Lord Rama and Lord Parshurama in the project.

Speaking at the film’s teaser launch in Los Angeles, Kapoor explained his approach to playing two incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

“Lord Vishnu had different avatars. Lord Rama was an avatar, and Lord Parshurama was an avatar before Lord Rama,” he said.

Reflecting on his preparation, Kapoor added, “Just to get the opportunity, you know, how I got to play Lord Rama, to also play Lord Parshurama was fantastic. I think as an actor, apart from body language, I think if you deeply understand the spirituality and the emotionality of the characters, I think everything starts from there. I think that’s what I did the year leading up to the shoot of Ramayana, to understand who these people and characters are, what they stand for and what their motives are.”

Ramayana Cast and Release

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. Arun Govil will play King Dasharath.

The film is scheduled for a Diwali 2026 release and is among the most anticipated Indian productions currently in development.