Ramayana Movie | Ranbir Kapoor, Yash Discuss Bringing India’s Epic ‘Ramayana’ To Global Audiences

Indian film star Ranbir Kapoor says his initial reaction to being offered a role in "Ramayana: Rise of a Legend" was fear and self-doubt as he considered the responsibility of bringing one of India's most revered epics to the screen. “You know Ramayana has been the conscience keeper for billions of people across generations, so you can't mess that up,” Kapoor said at the film's premiere in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Kapoor, who has been acting for 18 years and comes from a family of Bollywood actors, said he and director Nitesh Tiwari, along with the cast and crew, shared a commitment to telling the story authentically. “But I guess you just had to have the right intentions, the noble intent and the desire that you want to say this story in the most authentic way possible,” he said. The role came at a significant time in Kapoor's personal life. He had recently become a father, an experience he said coincided with an opportunity to improve himself. “You know it was a time in my life that I needed it more for, you know, to improve myself as a person. I became a father for the first time,” he said. Kapoor hopes audiences around the world will connect with the story beyond its cultural origins. “I really hope the global diaspora when they see a film, a film which is made from an Indian culture ... I hope that they resonate you know with the human story and how universal the story is.” Kapoor acknowledged that portraying a figure from an epic that has been part of Indian culture for generations meant he would face criticism. “Well, I was aware of the skepticism that people would have about me being casted in this part,” he said. “But I believe that any actor playing this part would come with that, with a set of doubters.” Yash, who also stars in the film, said the adaptation offers an opportunity to share Indian culture and values with audiences worldwide. “I come from a place where stories are not just told, it's remembered, it's passed down to generations. And we learn from it,” Yash said. He said the story's themes extend beyond any one culture. “Because by the end of the day all of us are human, deep down all of are connected and we believe from the culture where I come in that universe is one,” he said. "Ramayana: Rise of a Legend" releases in theaters Nov. 5.