Our Bureau
Mumbai
Veteran actor Nitish Bharadwaj has showered praise on the trailer of Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming epic Ramayana, calling it a cinematic spectacle with global appeal while urging lead actor Ranbir Kapoor to steer away from intense, violent roles such as Animal if he wishes to continue portraying revered mythological characters.
Known for his iconic portrayal of Lord Krishna in B.R. Chopra’s Mahabharat, Bharadwaj described Ramayana as a film capable of setting new benchmarks for Indian cinema. He commended its visual scale, performances, music and technical craftsmanship, expressing confidence that the film could achieve international recognition. Bharadwaj even suggested that the project had the potential to emerge as a strong contender for major global honours, including the Academy Awards.
While praising Ranbir Kapoor’s transformation into Lord Ram, Bharadwaj advised the actor to be mindful of his future film choices. Referring to Kapoor’s critically acclaimed but controversial performance in Animal, he said the actor should now avoid roles that conflict with the values associated with mythological characters. According to Bharadwaj, audiences often continue to associate actors with iconic portrayals of divine figures, making their public image equally significant.
Veteran actor Dipika Chikhalia, who portrayed Sita in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan, recently backed Kapoor, saying that his performance in Animal demonstrates his acting range and ability to convincingly portray Lord Ram.
Featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash in pivotal roles, Ramayana has generated immense anticipation following its trailer launch. The film’s grand scale, visual effects and faithful adaptation of the epic have fuelled expectations, positioning it as one of the most awaited Indian releases of the year.