Cinema VinesDev Sharma has confirmed that he will be stepping into the role of Lord Rama in the upcoming epic Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha, a new adaptation of the ancient tale. The film, directed by Abhishek Singh and produced by Prakash Mahobiya and Sanjay Bundela under the Mahobiya Films banner, is slated for a theatrical release on September 25. Sharma will be joined on screen by Anjali Arora as Sita and Rajniesh Duggall as Ravana.
During the trailer launch held last Thursday, Sharma revealed that he had previously been offered the part of Lakshman in two high‑profile Ramayana projects: Prabhas’s Adipurush and Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana. He explained that although his look tests were nearly finalised, the decision fell through because of height discrepancies. “I was two inches taller than the actor playing Lord Rama in one film and as huge as him in the other,” he told reporters in Hindi, adding that these differences ultimately led to his dismissal from both roles.
Sharma admitted that when the makers of Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha approached him, he initially declined, saying he did not want to portray a Ramayana character or play Lakshman. However, he ultimately accepted the offer, believing it was his destiny to embody Lord Rama after his earlier rejections. “I felt it was meant to happen for a reason,” he said, underscoring a sense of purpose behind his decision.
For context, Adipurush, which hit theatres in 2023, starred Prabhas as Rama, Kriti Sanon as Sita, Saif Ali Khan as Ravana, and Sunny Singh as Lakshman. The film drew widespread criticism over its depiction of characters, dialogue and visual effects, and earned approximately ₹390 crore worldwide against a ₹700 crore budget. Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, Kannada star Yash as Ravana and Sunny Deol as Hanuman, is set for a Diwali 2026 release with a reported ₹4,000 crore budget.
Dev Sharma’s journey from being turned down for Lakshman to finally portraying Rama illustrates the unpredictable nature of casting in epic adaptations. Fans of the Ramayana are now eagerly anticipating how Sharma will bring the revered hero to life in Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha.
