Films Run on Faith, Not Fame’: Sadhguru’s Message to Ranbir Kapoor

Spiritual leader Sadhguru offers advice to actor Ranbir Kapoor, urging him to ‘transform’ into the character of Lord Ram while acknowledging the massive, often “unrealistic,” expectations from devotees ahead of Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana.

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Actor Ranbir Kapoor faces a unique challenge with his upcoming role as Lord Rama in director Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part epic, Ramayana. Given the deity’s revered status, the casting has generated both intense anticipation and significant criticism from fans and devotees alike, with expectations for the actor to truly embody the character’s divine qualities.

Sadhguru’s Advice on Portraying Lord Rama

Spiritual leader Sadhguru recently discussed this pressure with the film’s producer, Namit Malhotra (of Prime Focus Studios), during an interaction shared on the film’s official YouTube channel.

When Malhotra raised the issue of actors facing expectations to become the figures they portray (Lord Rama, Sita, Hanuman), Sadhguru gave candid advice to the actors:

• Transform Yourself: “If they have sense, they should become. It’s an opportunity that you get to play the role of Rama, so you’d better transform yourself. When will you do it in your life?”
• Imbibe the Quality: He emphasized that the actor and director should “imbibe a bit of Ram’s quality,” hoping that acting like Rama brings some elements of his gentleness into the actor’s own life.

Addressing Unfair Criticism and Expectations

Sadhguru acknowledged the heavy burden of “unrealistic expectation” placed on professional actors in such roles.

• Unfair Judgment: He addressed the criticism where fans dismiss Ranbir’s casting based on his earlier roles (like Animal or Sanju) or past comments. Sadhguru called this an “unfair judgment,” noting that an actor’s job is professional—they could act as Ravana in a future movie.
• The Power of People: Despite the professional nature of acting, Sadhguru advised against completely brushing aside public expectation. He cited the example of Telugu cinema icon NT Rama Rao, who was worshipped as Lord Krishna by the public after playing him in numerous films, illustrating the deep impact a portrayal can have.
• Balancing Act: He concluded that while it is an onerous expectation, a film’s success ultimately depends on the people, and therefore, their hopes cannot be ignored.

Details on the Film Ramayana

• Ramayana is a two-part epic directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, reportedly set to be the most expensive Indian production to date.
• Release Dates: Part One is scheduled to release in theatres on Diwali 2026, with Part Two following on the subsequent Diwali.
• Key Cast:
  • Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama
  • Sai Pallavi as Sita
  • Yash as Ravana
  • Ravie Dubey as Lakshman
  • Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman