DYK? Before Ranbir Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan Was Set To Play Lord Rama in a Ramayana Film With THIS Legendary Actor
Before Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming grand adaptation starring Ranbir Kapoor, filmmaker Sanjay Khan had planned a massive INR 50 crore film based on the epic Ramayana titled The Legend of Ram in 2008. However, due to financial hurdles, the project was shelved.
Long before director Nitesh Tiwari announced his upcoming cinematic adaptation of the Ramayana, veteran filmmaker Sanjay Khan envisioned a large-scale feature film based on the Hindu epic back in 2008. Titled The Legend of Ram, the ambitious project was slated to star Hrithik Roshan as Lord Ram and Amitabh Bachchan as King Dashrath. However, despite significant pre-production planning, the film was ultimately shelved before cameras could roll. ‘Ramayana’: Ramlila Body Seeks Pre-Release Screening of Ranbir Kapoor’s Mythological Film, Threatens Protests Over Alleged Inaccuracies.
What Happened to Hrithik Roshan's ‘The Legend of Ram’?
In 2008, filmmaker Sanjay Khan, known for historical television series such as The Sword of Tipu Sultan and Jai Hanuman, announced plans to mount a modern live-action adaptation of the epic titled The Legend of Ram. The proposed cast featured his then-son-in-law Hrithik Roshan in the lead role of Lord Ram, his son Zayed Khan as Lakshman, and Amitabh Bachchan approached to play King Dashrath.
In an interview from 2008, Zayed Khan confirmed the development, stating that his father had been planning the movie for three years and considered Hrithik the ideal choice for the role. Despite extensive planning and a massive budget of ₹50 crore—a high figure for Indian cinema at the time—the project faced multiple production hurdles. Due to the high financial risks, the complexity of visual effects required for the scale of the film, and logistical challenges, The Legend of Ram was quietly shelved and never entered active production.
Ranbir Kapoor's 'Ramayana'
Fast forward to the present, director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra have brought the epic back to the big screen on an unprecedented scale. The dynamic ensemble cast features Ranbir Kapoor leading the film as Lord Ram, alongside Sai Pallavi as Sita and KGF star Yash playing the antagonist, Ravana. Supporting roles include Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. Manoj Muntashir Labels ‘Adipurush’ a ‘Failed Attempt,’ Urges No Comparison With Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’.
Mounted as a two-part cinematic saga with global visual effects handled by DNEG and a musical score composed by AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer, the project represents one of the most expensive Indian films to date. The first instalment of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release during Diwali 2026, followed by the second part during Diwali 2027.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 07, 2026 02:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
