As anticipation builds around Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious adaptation of Ramayana, veteran actor Arun Govil has shared his thoughts on the comparisons the film is already facing. Govil, who became a household name after portraying Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar’s legendary 1987 television series, is returning to the epic in a new role as King Dashrath.
Ever since the first look of the film was unveiled, social media has been abuzz with comparisons between Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Ram and Govil’s iconic appearance from the television classic. Addressing the debate in an interview with PTI, Govil said comparisons are inevitable when a benchmark has been set. He added that no one should feel uncomfortable about being compared, as it reflects the impact of earlier portrayals.
Govil also spoke about the visual responsibility that comes with playing a divine character. According to him, the look of the actor is crucial, as audiences should feel a sense of divinity the moment they see the character on screen.
The upcoming Ramayana is a two-part live-action saga featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The film is produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios and DNEG, in collaboration with Yash’s Monster Mind Creations.
Govil also clarified that the film should not be compared to Adipurush, the 2023 adaptation that failed both critically and commercially, stating that the two projects are very different in approach and execution. The first part is scheduled for a worldwide IMAX release during Diwali 2026, with the second part arriving in Diwali 2027.
