‘Ramayana’ Actor Nitish Sharma: ‘Ranbir Is a Once-in-a-Generation Talent; Ravie’s Lakshman Will Be Remembered for Ages’ (EXCLUSIVE)

The much-anticipated “Ramayana: Part 1” is all set to hit the screens on November 5. Actor Nitish Sharma, who plays Shatrughan in the movie, was also a part of the pilot of the film that filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari shot in 2023. In the pilot, however, he wasn’t playing Shatrughan. “They had called me for Lakshman’s part, but when I went on the set, Nitesh sir asked me to play Lord Rama. He liked my performance and told me that he would definitely cast me in the main film. Six months later, I was in Mukesh Chabbra’s office when he told me that I was finalized as Shatrughan.”

Sharma says Ranbir Kapoor and Ravie Dubey treated him like a younger brother on set, making it easier for him to play the part. He shares, “I was always a fan of Ranbir as a performer. He is a once-in-a-generation talent. After working with him, I have become a fan of the human being he is. I never imagined that any superstar would be so humble, gracious and generous. The same holds true for Ravie.” 

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He adds, “They have given me so much love, warmth and respect. I am much younger than them, and they treated me like a younger sibling on set. I had such a good bond with Ravie. I discovered that we have so many similarities in real life as well. Ranbir treats everyone on set with utmost dignity. Working with him did not feel like being part of a big film with a superstar. I felt like I was with my elder brother.”

About Sai Pallavi, who plays Sita, Sharma says, “It never felt like she was acting. When you see Sai, she seems so calm, sweet and respectful. The set of ‘Ramayana’ was one of the most peaceful ones I have worked on. Everyone had the same goal - to tell the story to the world with passion and divinity. It is such a definitive movie for everyone involved. Look, Ravie is getting his due after working for almost 20 years in the industry. I am sure his portrayal of Lakshman will be remembered for ages.”

On what makes Shatrughan an interesting character, Sharma says, “Those who have read Tulsidas’ ‘Ramcharitmanas’ or Valmiki’s ‘Ramayana’ know that Shatrughan managed Ayodhya when Lord Rama was in exile. He was known for his calm demeanor and was a firm believer in justice. In the epic, Lakshman almost executes Manthara (Sheeba Chaddha) after learning she poisoned Kaikeyi’s (Lara Dutta) mind, but Shatrughan stops him. He is intelligent and takes over the reins of Ayodhya in Lord Rama’s absence. I would say that he is less explored, but there’s a lot of depth to his personality.”

Sharma also praises Tiwari’s approach to filmmaking. He says, “He is the most chilled person, but he is extremely intelligent. He knows how to get the best out of his actors. He is not a taskmaster. He works with a lot of love and warmth. I felt so good working with him. He is passionate about his work and clear about his goals.”

Asked about the potential impact of “Ramayana” on Indian filmmaking, Sharma says, “I feel we lacked grandeur in our execution. If the movie succeeds, then other Indian stories might also be attempted on a bigger scale. We can showcase our culture to the world and compete with the best.”