Published: 10:53 PM, 09 September 2026
Shiv Sagar says Ranbir Kapoor has too much ‘baggage’ to play Lord Rama
Shiv Sagar, grandson of filmmaker Ramanand Sagar, says he cannot accept Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s “Ramayana” after seeing him in “Animal”.
Sagar said he was otherwise impressed by the casting, particularly Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, DNA reports.
“Except for that one casting, I like the rest of the casting very much,” he told ANI.
“Personally, I cannot accept Ranbir Kapoor as Ram because after ‘Animal’, I cannot accept him as Ram.”
Sagar said he would have preferred a fresh face for the role, arguing that actors associated with very different screen personas can carry “baggage” into such parts.
“When I look at Ram ji, I feel that a fresh face should have been taken,” he said.
“You can take a very strong supporting cast, like Yash is looking very good, Sai Pallavi is looking very good. They don’t have that much baggage.”
He said that was also why his family’s television productions often cast newcomers in major religious roles.
Sagar stressed that his criticism was not about Ranbir’s ability as an actor.
“We have seen Ranbir in different roles; he is a very good actor. Personally, I don’t have anything against him,” he said.
He suggested the decision may also have been driven by the film’s commercial needs.
“I think they must have taken him for the project because they want a marketing push,” Sagar said.
“But I personally believe that for such characters, it’s better to take a new face.”
Sagar also questioned how audiences might respond if Ranbir returned to a role such as the one he played in “Animal” after portraying Ram.
“Because after ‘Ramayan’, will he be accepted again in a film like ‘Animal’?” he asked.
He said audiences were particularly emotionally invested in Ram and the “Ramayana”, describing the story as part of India’s history and religious tradition rather than simply mythology.
Sagar nevertheless acknowledged that the final judgement would rest with audiences.
