Arun Govil says Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana cannot be compared to Adipurush

Arun Govil, who plays King Dashrath in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, says comparisons with Prabhas’ Adipurush “don’t make sense” and praises the film’s authentic approach.

What happened: Arun Govil rejected comparisons between Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana and Adipurush during a recent public interaction.

Why it matters now: The first look of Nitesh Tiwari’s big-budget Ramayana has triggered fresh debates about portrayals of Lord Ram.

What changes for people: Fans now get clarity from the actor most associated with the mythological role for decades.

Who is affected: Viewers awaiting Tiwari’s adaptation, the film’s cast including Ranbir Kapoor, and the makers of ongoing mythological projects.

Arun Govil breaks silence on comparisons

Veteran actor Arun Govil, who immortalised the role of Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar’s 1980s TV classic Ramayan, is returning to the epic once again – this time as King Dashrath in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana.

With Ranbir Kapoor’s first look already viral, many fans began comparing the visual tone and performances to Prabhas’ Adipurush.

Govil, however, made it clear that the two should not be mentioned in the same breath.

Speaking at a recent industry event, he said that comparisons are natural when a benchmark exists but added firmly that there is “a lot of difference between Ramayana and Adipurush.”

“You must look divine to play God”

Govil explained that visual authenticity matters deeply when portraying deities.

He said viewers should feel the presence of divinity the moment they see the actor:

“When people see you, they should think, ‘God can be like that.’ The look is very important.”

This remark comes at a time when the portrayal of mythological characters has become a major topic of debate among audiences.

Govil praises Tiwari’s film and his experience on set

Govil shared that his shoot portions for the film are complete and that he had a strong, positive experience with the team.

He called the environment “good” and expressed satisfaction with how the film is shaping up.

Industry buzz suggests that Tiwari’s Ramayana aims to be one of the most visually ambitious Indian films ever made.

A star-studded cast and global technical team

The film features some of the biggest names in Indian cinema:

Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram

Yash as Ravana

Sai Pallavi as Sita

Sunny Deol as Hanuman

Ravi Dubey as Lakshman

The global crew is just as impressive, including:

Hans Zimmer

A. R. Rahman

Stunt legend Guy Norris (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Performance expert Terry Notary (Avengers, Avatar)

The film is produced by Prime Focus Studios, DNEG, and Monster Mind Creations.

Release timeline

Ramayana: Part 1 – scheduled for Diwali 2026

Ramayana: Part 2 – targeted for Diwali 2027

Both films are expected to redefine Indian mythological storytelling on a global scale.