‘Ramayana’: Kunal Kapoor Says Lord Indra Deserves a Standalone Film: ‘It’s a Character Big Enough for Its Own Universe’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Kunal Kapoor, who plays the king of the devas in Nitesh Tiwari’s “Ramayana,” believes that the character has enough depth and scale to anchor an entire cinematic universe. He also reveals that some viewers on social media have been discussing the possibility of crowdfunding a film centered on Indra, a response he finds particularly touching.

“I do think Lord Indra deserves his own film, whether it happens with me or without me, because it’s a character big enough for its own universe,” Kapoor tells Variety India. “I’ve seen people online talking about crowdfunding it, which is a lovely coincidence since I co-founded Ketto, so I’m very touched that people care about the character that much.”

While there is no announced standalone project centered on Indra, Kapoor’s comments underline the interest he has noticed around his portrayal. The actor believes that the deity has long been misunderstood in modern media, noting that, “Lord Indra’s character has been misinterpreted in recent years. He was presented like the warrior and king that he was, I guess that resonated with people.” 

Related Stories

‘Ramayana’: Faisal Malik Reveals How Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk Became His Reference for Kumbhakarna (EXCLUSIVE)

‘Ramayana Part 2’: Raghav Juyal On Meghnad’s Battle With Lakshman And Nitesh Tiwari’s Brief: ‘He Wanted A Certain Glint, An Almost Evil Intensity And Fire In My Eyes’ (EXCLUSIVE)

For Kapoor, Indra’s appeal lies in the contrast between his immense power and his vulnerability. Rather than approaching him solely as an all-powerful deity or a ruler whose position is under threat, the actor was drawn to the character’s duality, “I didn’t really approach it as one or the other. What drew me to Indra is that he is both at the same time. I’ve always enjoyed playing characters who are strong on the outside but carry a vulnerability inside, and with Indra you have the king of the heavens, someone who commands armies and thunder and lightning but has his own set of insecurities.” 

Playing a character associated with faith also came with an awareness of the responsibility involved. “You’re always aware of it, because for millions of people this isn’t a character, it’s faith, and you walk onto that set with a lot of respect for that,” he explains. Further adding, “But honestly, I’ve rarely been on a set that felt so relaxed and easy, which is not something you’d expect from a film this big. That calm came from the top, from Nitesh sir and Namit (Malhotra), and it filtered down to everyone, so the responsibility never turned into pressure.”

Given the character’s place in the larger epic and the contradictions that make him compelling, Kapoor believes there is much more to explore beyond his appearance in “Ramayana.” For now, however, the actor is happy that his portrayal has got audiences talking about Indra in a way that could open the door to a story of his own.