Ramanand Sagar's grandson on Ramayana: Hope audience accepts Ranbir as Lord Rama
Shiv Sagar, grandson of legendary director Ramanand Sagar, praised the trailer of director Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana and said he hopes audiences accept Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama. He said the film's global ambitions could benefit Indian cinema.
Director Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana has become a major talking point after its trailer release, with the film drawing comparisons with legendary director Ramanand Sagar's television series Ramayan (1987). Amid the discussion, Shiv Sagar, Ramanand Sagar's grandson, said he was impressed by the scale of the new film and hoped audiences would accept actor Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama.
In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Shiv said Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan had set a benchmark for television and that every new adaptation of the epic was inevitably measured against it.
Sharing his reaction to the Ramayana: Part One trailer, he said, "I quite liked it, to be honest. In the earlier promotional asset, I felt that the quality of the graphics did not match the scale of the budget. However, after watching the trailer and seeing the ensemble cast, I am impressed."
He added, "I thought Yash looked brilliant as Ravana. Sai Pallavi, too, suits the character of Sita, especially in the way she speaks and articulates herself. Overall, I think it looks very grand." Shiv also said he hoped Ranbir Kapoor would be accepted as Rama and that, if the film succeeded globally, it would benefit Indian cinema as a whole.
Shiv said he believed the film had been made with an international audience in mind and hoped it would open up the global market for Indian mythology, culture and fantasy.
He said, "I assume that they have made it with an international audience in mind. It would be great if the film opens up the global market for Indian mythology, culture and fantasy. If they manage to pull it off successfully, it will be wonderful and will benefit Indian cinema as a whole."
"Even the way Pushpak Viman has been conceived is praiseworthy. I also liked Surpanakha's (Rakul Preet Singh) entry on the tiger chariot. I only hope that Ranbir Kapoor is accepted as Rama, and I wish him luck. After Animal (2023), people may have formed a certain image of him. At the same time, with the ensemble cast and the grand visual experience, the film might go down well with the audience," he added.
Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan remains one of the most iconic television shows in Indian history. Premiering in 1987, it starred Arun Govil as Lord Rama, Dipika Chikhlia as Sita and Sunil Lahri as Lakshman, and went on to become a cultural phenomenon watched by millions every week.
Even decades later, the television series continues to be seen as a benchmark for Ramayana adaptations. The trailer of Ramayana: Part One was released worldwide on July 30, offering a glimpse of its scale, VFX and the actors portraying Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Ravana, Sita and other key characters.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and backed by Namit Malhotra, the film features actors Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha and Arun Govil as King Dasharatha.
Ramayana: Part One will release in two parts, with the first instalment set to hit theatres on Diwali 2026.
Director Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana has become a major talking point after its trailer release, with the film drawing comparisons with legendary director Ramanand Sagar's television series Ramayan (1987). Amid the discussion, Shiv Sagar, Ramanand Sagar's grandson, said he was impressed by the scale of the new film and hoped audiences would accept actor Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama.
In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Shiv said Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan had set a benchmark for television and that every new adaptation of the epic was inevitably measured against it.
Sharing his reaction to the Ramayana: Part One trailer, he said, "I quite liked it, to be honest. In the earlier promotional asset, I felt that the quality of the graphics did not match the scale of the budget. However, after watching the trailer and seeing the ensemble cast, I am impressed."
He added, "I thought Yash looked brilliant as Ravana. Sai Pallavi, too, suits the character of Sita, especially in the way she speaks and articulates herself. Overall, I think it looks very grand." Shiv also said he hoped Ranbir Kapoor would be accepted as Rama and that, if the film succeeded globally, it would benefit Indian cinema as a whole.
Shiv said he believed the film had been made with an international audience in mind and hoped it would open up the global market for Indian mythology, culture and fantasy.
He said, "I assume that they have made it with an international audience in mind. It would be great if the film opens up the global market for Indian mythology, culture and fantasy. If they manage to pull it off successfully, it will be wonderful and will benefit Indian cinema as a whole."
"Even the way Pushpak Viman has been conceived is praiseworthy. I also liked Surpanakha's (Rakul Preet Singh) entry on the tiger chariot. I only hope that Ranbir Kapoor is accepted as Rama, and I wish him luck. After Animal (2023), people may have formed a certain image of him. At the same time, with the ensemble cast and the grand visual experience, the film might go down well with the audience," he added.
Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan remains one of the most iconic television shows in Indian history. Premiering in 1987, it starred Arun Govil as Lord Rama, Dipika Chikhlia as Sita and Sunil Lahri as Lakshman, and went on to become a cultural phenomenon watched by millions every week.
Even decades later, the television series continues to be seen as a benchmark for Ramayana adaptations. The trailer of Ramayana: Part One was released worldwide on July 30, offering a glimpse of its scale, VFX and the actors portraying Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Ravana, Sita and other key characters.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and backed by Namit Malhotra, the film features actors Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha and Arun Govil as King Dasharatha.
Ramayana: Part One will release in two parts, with the first instalment set to hit theatres on Diwali 2026.
Director Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana has become a major talking point after its trailer release, with the film drawing comparisons with legendary director Ramanand Sagar's television series Ramayan (1987). Amid the discussion, Shiv Sagar, Ramanand Sagar's grandson, said he was impressed by the scale of the new film and hoped audiences would accept actor Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama.
In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Shiv said Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan had set a benchmark for television and that every new adaptation of the epic was inevitably measured against it.
Sharing his reaction to the Ramayana: Part One trailer, he said, "I quite liked it, to be honest. In the earlier promotional asset, I felt that the quality of the graphics did not match the scale of the budget. However, after watching the trailer and seeing the ensemble cast, I am impressed."
He added, "I thought Yash looked brilliant as Ravana. Sai Pallavi, too, suits the character of Sita, especially in the way she speaks and articulates herself. Overall, I think it looks very grand." Shiv also said he hoped Ranbir Kapoor would be accepted as Rama and that, if the film succeeded globally, it would benefit Indian cinema as a whole.
Shiv said he believed the film had been made with an international audience in mind and hoped it would open up the global market for Indian mythology, culture and fantasy.
He said, "I assume that they have made it with an international audience in mind. It would be great if the film opens up the global market for Indian mythology, culture and fantasy. If they manage to pull it off successfully, it will be wonderful and will benefit Indian cinema as a whole."
"Even the way Pushpak Viman has been conceived is praiseworthy. I also liked Surpanakha's (Rakul Preet Singh) entry on the tiger chariot. I only hope that Ranbir Kapoor is accepted as Rama, and I wish him luck. After Animal (2023), people may have formed a certain image of him. At the same time, with the ensemble cast and the grand visual experience, the film might go down well with the audience," he added.
Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan remains one of the most iconic television shows in Indian history. Premiering in 1987, it starred Arun Govil as Lord Rama, Dipika Chikhlia as Sita and Sunil Lahri as Lakshman, and went on to become a cultural phenomenon watched by millions every week.
Even decades later, the television series continues to be seen as a benchmark for Ramayana adaptations. The trailer of Ramayana: Part One was released worldwide on July 30, offering a glimpse of its scale, VFX and the actors portraying Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Ravana, Sita and other key characters.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and backed by Namit Malhotra, the film features actors Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha and Arun Govil as King Dasharatha.
Ramayana: Part One will release in two parts, with the first instalment set to hit theatres on Diwali 2026.
