Cinema VinesActor Gajendra Chauhan, who first captured audiences as Yudhishthir in B. R. Chopra’s iconic Mahabharat series, has shared his candid thoughts on the highly anticipated Ramayana film directed by Nitesh Tiwari. While he found Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Rama visually striking, the trailer, according to Chauhan, failed to fully convince him.
During an episode of the Hindi Rush Podcast, Chauhan highlighted a particular concern: the depiction of Kaikeyi, played by Lara Dutta. He argued that the character’s styling—especially her modern saree—and the scene where she urges King Dasharath to exile Rama did not align with traditional expectations of the epic’s narrative. “I saw the Ramayana trailer. Personally, I was not impressed. I was not impressed by Kaikeyi’s scene where she asks for Ram’s exile. Her dressing, for one, is very modern. They have given her a modern saree,” he remarked.
Drawing from his own experience as Dasharath in Ravi Chopra’s 2002 Ramayan adaptation, Chauhan noted how the emotional weight of that moment had been meticulously crafted. He emphasized that such scenes are pivotal in the story, marking the family's unraveling under Kaikeyi’s influence.
Despite his reservations about certain casting choices, Chauhan praised Ranbir Kapoor for embodying Lord Rama’s regal presence in the teaser. He acknowledged the challenge of meeting the audience’s deeply ingrained mental image of the deity, shaped by cultural depictions and previous screen portrayals. “Here, Ranbir Kapoor has his own image. He is a very big star. Now he is playing Ram. He looks very good in the get-up,” he said.
Chauhan also expressed admiration for the decision to cast Arun Govil as King Dasharath. Govil, known for his iconic role as Lord Rama in Ramanand Sagar’s 1980s Ramayan series, brings a unique continuity to the story. “I think the best casting is Arun Govil as Dasharath. He was Ram 40 years ago. After 40 years, he has grown into Dasharath,” Chauhan observed, highlighting the actor’s evolution and suitability for the role.
