Ananya Lohia , Mumbai - Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has expressed his excitement over Ranbir Kapoor portraying Lord Rama in Ramayana, saying the role could have a deeply enriching impact on the actor both professionally and personally. Imtiaz, who previously directed Ranbir in films like Rockstar and Tamasha, praised the actor’s versatility and ability to completely absorb himself into every character he plays.

In an interview with Filmibeat, Imtiaz described Ranbir as a “pure actor” and said he believes the actor can bring a realistic and human touch to the iconic character of Lord Rama. “Ranbir can do anything as an actor. He should do different roles, and when he does different roles, he'll become them,” Imtiaz said, adding that he is happy to see the actor taking on such a spiritually significant role. The filmmaker further stated that playing Lord Rama would be hugely beneficial for Ranbir because of the way he internalises his characters. According to Imtiaz, the actor would “take from Rama,” making the experience personally enriching for him. The teaser of Ramayana recently sparked mixed reactions online. While many viewers appreciated Ranbir’s appearance as Lord Rama, some felt he was not the ideal choice for the role. Apart from portraying Lord Rama, Ranbir will also essay Lord Parshurama in the ambitious mythological drama directed by Nitesh Tiwari.

Speaking to Collider earlier, Ranbir shared his excitement about playing the dual avatars linked to Lord Vishnu. He called it a “fantastic” opportunity to portray both Lord Rama and Lord Parshurama in the same project. Backed by Yash and Namit Malhotra, the film features an ensemble cast including Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The two-part epic is scheduled to release on Diwali 2026 and Diwali 2027 respectively.

Meanwhile, Imtiaz Ali is gearing up for the release of his upcoming romantic drama Main Vaapas Aaunga starring Diljit Dosanjh, Vedang Raina, Sharvari and Naseeruddin Shah. The film is slated to hit theatres on June 12 and will clash with Bharat Bhagya Vidhata starring Kangana Ranaut and Governor: The Silent Saviour featuring Manoj Bajpayee.