Our Bureau
Mumbai
Actor Ranbir Kapoor has drawn attention with his comparison of Elon Musk’s futuristic Tesla Roadster with the mythical Pushpak Vimana described in the Ramayana. During a promotional interaction ahead of his upcoming film Ramayana, Kapoor remarked that India had already imagined flying vehicles thousands of years ago. “I must also add that Elon Musk recently invented a flying car,” he said, adding that India had done it 5,000 years ago.
The actor was referring to the Pushpak Vimana, a divine flying vehicle mentioned in the Hindu epic. The mythical chariot is described as a self-moving aerial vehicle and is associated with several important events in the Ramayana. Kapoor’s remark drew a connection between ancient Indian mythology and modern technological developments.
His comments come after Tesla unveiled its redesigned Roadster on October 15. The demonstration featured rocket-style thrusters, with the company announcing a production target of 2028. An invitation-only version, called the Rocket variant, was also described as having a full flight system. The demonstration brought renewed attention to Musk’s plans for the next-generation electric sports car.
During the interaction, Kapoor also spoke about playing Lord Ram, describing the role as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He said the character represents several relationships, including those of a brother, husband, father and friend. Actor Yash, who portrays Ravana in the film, also discussed the different versions of the Ramayana and how people interpret the epic from different perspectives.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana: Part One features Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. Sunny Deol will portray Lord Hanuman, while Ravi Dubey will play Lakshman. Produced by Namit Malhotra, the film features music by AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer and is scheduled to release in theatres on November 5.