Veteran actor Arun Govil, beloved for his iconic portrayal of Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar’s timeless television series Ramayan (1987), recently expressed skepticism over whether any modern-day Bollywood actor could truly embody the divine character. "As director Nitesh Tiwari gears up for a lavish retelling of the Ramayana with Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi in lead roles, Arun Govil’s recent reflections offer a compelling viewpoint amid the rising excitement surrounding the film."

With filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari crafting a massive cinematic version of the sacred epic Ramayana, featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita, Arun Govil’s recent statement brings Rising expectations reflect a shared hope for the project’s deeper impact.

In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, Govil said, “Several attempts have been made to recreate Ramayan, but none have succeeded. Honestly, in today’s time, I don’t see any actor from the current generation capable of portraying Lord Ram convincingly. Perhaps, someone outside the film fraternity might be a better choice.”

His comments come in the wake of widespread criticism of Adipurush, the 2023 mythological film featuring Prabhas and Kriti Sanon. The movie faced backlash for its dialogues, special effects, and overall interpretation of the sacred epic, leaving audiences and critics disappointed.

Govil’s performance as Lord Ram, alongside Dipika Chikhlia’s Sita, left an indelible mark on Indian pop culture, especially in the late ’80s. Their portrayal earned immense respect and is still remembered as a benchmark for devotional storytelling on screen.

The upcoming epic drama also includes an impressive lineup of talent—Yash will portray the menacing role of Ravana, while Sunny Deol, Lara Dutta, and Ravi Dubey take on significant supporting characters.

At the Waves Summit 2025, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis praised the project, noting, “The scale and storytelling finesse I witnessed is awe-inspiring. This is exactly the kind of narrative approach that will resonate with today’s youth.”

Ramayana will be released in two chapters—the first installment is scheduled for Diwali 2026, followed by the concluding part in 2027.