Actor Ranbir Kapoor and filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari have opened up about the emotional and creative journey behind their ambitious adaptation of Ramayana, calling the film one of the most meaningful experiences of their lives.Speaking to Top Film Magazine, the duo reflected on the responsibility of bringing the epic to the big screen, the years of preparation involved and how the story personally transformed them.

‘It was life-defining for me’

Ranbir Kapoor admitted that taking on a story as revered as Ramayana initially filled him with fear and self-doubt.“Would I be able to do justice? Am I worthy enough?” he recalled thinking.However, the actor said those fears eventually turned into gratitude and personal growth.“I understood not that it will be something like a career-defining move for me, but it was definitely life-defining. It changed my life,” Ranbir shared.The actor added that immersing himself in Lord Rama’s journey deeply impacted the way he looks at life, sacrifice and compassion.“It changed my value system, the way I look at life, the way I look at loss, the way I look at sacrifice, the way I look at dharma,” he said.

‘Raha made me better and Ramayana wanted me to be better for Raha’

Ranbir also emotionally connected the experience of working on the film with becoming a father to daughter Raha.“It was such a sweet coincidence in my life that Raha made me a better person and Ramayana wanted me to be a better person for Raha,” he said.Calling Lord Rama “deeply human”, the actor said what moved him most was not Rama’s strength, but his restraint and compassion.“He responds out of compassion and not out of ego,” Ranbir explained.“In today’s world, where we are always on edge and wanting to react instantly, Rama responding with humility, forgiveness and restraint feels beyond human.”

Nitesh Tiwari on balancing emotions and visual spectacle

Director Nitesh Tiwari stressed that while the film uses large-scale visual effects and modern technology, emotions remain the heart of the story.“When it comes to something as epic as Ramayan, emotions are the core,” he said.He described VFX as merely a storytelling tool that helps present the story in a fresh cinematic manner.“VFX allows us to tell the same story in a way it has never been done before,” Nitesh shared.The filmmaker revealed that the team spent nearly five years building the world of ‘Ramayana’, including the creatures, costumes, production design and action sequences.“We have spent close to five years just getting the world right,” he said.

‘Every scene has been prevised’

Nitesh also opened up about the extensive planning that went into the film’s visual execution.“Every scene, every moment has been prevised. We know exactly how we are shooting it, what kind of lensing we are going to use, how it’s going to be lit,” he explained.According to the filmmaker, advanced technology and VFX previews helped the team visualise the final frame even while shooting against blue screens.The director said the aim is not only to impress Indian audiences but also introduce global viewers to the emotional essence of the epic.“For people who are not aware of Ramayan, I want them to get completely bowled over by the content, the emotions, the values and the essence,” he said.

‘A story like Ramayana deserves this scale’

Ranbir Kapoor also reflected on the larger responsibility of taking an important cultural story to audiences across the world.“It’s been a humbling journey to have the opportunity to be part of our history, our culture, our truth and represent that across the world,” he shared.“I don’t think many films get that opportunity, but a story like Ramayana deserves something like this.”The actor added that while the team feels excited about the project, there is also nervousness and responsibility attached to presenting such a beloved story.“Sometimes life presents you with such opportunities that you feel very proud and very responsible,” he said.Mounted on a massive reported budget of Rs 4000 crore, Ramayana features a star-studded cast with Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana. Veteran actor Arun Govil, who famously portrayed Lord Rama in the iconic 1987 television series by Ramanand Sagar, will play King Dasharath. The film’s music will also mark a landmark collaboration between Oscar-winning composers AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer.