Ramayana: Sunny Deol Praises Ranbir Kapoor As Ram, Says 'He's Such A Fine Actor'
Sunny Deol on playing Hanuman in Ramayana: admits nervousness, praises Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, and hopes film delivers Hollywood-level effects.
Veteran actor Sunny Deol is gearing up to step into one of the most iconic roles of his career — that of Lord Hanuman in Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious adaptation of Ramayana. In a recent conversation with Zoom, Sunny opened up about his role, his excitement, his fears, and his admiration for co-star Ranbir Kapoor, who will be essaying Lord Ram.
On Taking Up Hanuman's Role
Sunny revealed that he hasn't started filming yet but will begin work on the film 'very shortly." Talking about his emotions as he prepares for the epic role, he said, 'It will be exciting, it will be fun. It's going to be great, it's going to be beautiful."
However, he admitted there is also nervousness that comes with portraying such a revered character, 'See, nervousness or fear – that factor is there. But that's the beauty of it, because you have to find within yourself how you're going to take up the challenge and how you're going to live up to it. And you're getting the opportunity to do it, and I'm very sure Amit, the producer, they're doing a great job of it."
Hoping for Hollywood-Level Visuals
The actor further expressed his hope that Tiwari's Ramayana will match the scale and spectacle of international cinema, 'Because they are going to bring out those supernatural things and those effects on screen, which I hope – fingers crossed – are nothing less than what Hollywood has. I mean, how many times has it been made, and how many Ramlilas happen? When it comes to the big screen, the way all the actors involved in it are performing, I'm sure there will be justice to everything, and people will feel satisfied and enjoy the whole film."
On Co-Star Ranbir Kapoor
Sunny was full of praise for Ranbir Kapoor, who plays Lord Ram in the film, 'It's going to be great because he's such a fine actor, and he always takes up a project and lives it completely."
Screen Time and Sequels
Reports last month suggested that Sunny Deol's Hanuman will have less than half an hour of screen presence in Ramayana: Part 1. The film will reportedly conclude with Hanuman's arrival, where he pledges to help Lord Ram rescue Goddess Sita from Ravana. The larger arc of Hanuman's journey, sources say, will unfold in Ramayana: Part 2, where Sunny is expected to have a far more prominent role.
The Bigger Picture
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film boasts a star-studded cast with Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. Produced by Madhu Mantena and Allu Aravind, Ramayana is shaping up to be one of the grandest projects ever attempted in Indian cinema.
The first instalment, Ramayana: Part 1, is slated for a Diwali 2026 release, while the second chapter will follow in Diwali 2027.
Earlier this year, Ranbir Kapoor too expressed his excitement, saying he was approaching the role with utmost sincerity and discipline, even altering his lifestyle to align with the spiritual responsibility of portraying Lord Ram. Meanwhile, Sunny's entry as Hanuman has further raised anticipation, given his towering screen presence and iconic 'dhai kilo ka haath" persona that audiences have long celebrated.
With cutting-edge technology, a legendary mythological tale, and a dream ensemble cast, Ramayana is being touted as India's answer to Hollywood's epic franchises. As Sunny put it best, 'When it comes to the big screen, I'm sure there will be justice to everything, and people will feel satisfied and enjoy the whole film."
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