May 26, 2026 11:00am IST
‘Ramayana’ Actor Adinath Kothare on Screen Sibling Ranbir Kapoor: ‘It Was a Sheer Honor to Work by His Side’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Working across Marathi and Hindi projects as an actor, director and producer over the years, Adinath Kothare has built a career across films like “'83” and “Paani” to several streaming projects. With Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming “Ramayana,” Kothare is now attached to one of Indian cinema’s most awaited productions. Kothare plays Bharat in the film, with a cast that includes Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash and Ravie Dubey.
“Ramayana” has been in the news for being one of the most expensive Indian films ever made. Discussions around its scale, casting and expectations continue to dominate conversations. Kothare, however, prefers looking at the project through a different lens, saying, “I'm really honored to be a part of India's biggest film and to be working with such a passionate and such a great team.”
On playing an oft-essayed character and dealing with the pressure surrounding mythological adaptations, Kothare says, “I don't focus on peripheral noise. I just focus on reality. And the reality is when you have a great script in front of you, nothing else matters.”
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Kothare believes “Ramayana” could represent a larger shift for the industry. “I think, with ‘Ramayana,’ Indian cinema is definitely entering a different phase. It's taking the game a notch up.”
On Ranbir Kapoor
About sharing screen space with Ranbir Kapoor, he says, “Ranbir is one of the most hardworking, sincere and the most honest actors I have seen. And it was a sheer honor to be working by his side.”
He adds, “I'm pretty confident the audience is going to enjoy “Ramayana” because I think it is an honestly made film, and one of the most beautiful scripts I have read in my life.”
On Legacy and Growing Up in a Film Family
Coming from a film family often invites assumptions around access and easier pathways into the business. Kothare pushes back strongly against that narrative, “It doesn't matter which family you're born in, unless you work hard and harness your skills and develop your skill set in your field of passion. You might get an opportunity because of some influence but if you don't have talent, no one's going to look at you again.”
He credits his upbringing for helping him separate reality from the illusions attached to the entertainment business, “My family has taught me not to look at things like glamor and fame in the world of entertainment. What you need to strive for is seeking pleasure in creating something, a character, a project, a film, and art which gets appreciation from the audience.”
On Stardom and Success
The actor does not believe in the star system. “There's no such thing as a star. It's just an illusion. It's a mirage created by the industry to market its products,” He opines.
For Kothare, success has little to do with public perception. “Success is being able to get a sound sleep, wake up in the morning, have a smile, have a peaceful mind and being able to focus on your work and your family. That is success.” He sums up the philosophy that appears to guide much of his approach toward cinema. “Your body of work is the only reality that you need to keep focusing on.”
"Ramayana" is set to hit the big screen this Diwali. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, it also stars Sai Pallavi, Yash, Sunny Deol, Ravie Dubey, Lara Dutta, Sheeba Chadha and an ensemble cast.
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