Oct 26, 2026 10:49pm IST
‘Ramayana’ vs ‘Varanasi’: Fans on Instagram Pick Mahesh Babu As Their Favorite Actor To Play Lord Rama, Those On YouTube Pick Ranbir Kapoor
Ranbir Kapoor and Mahesh Babu have emerged as two of the biggest talking points in Indian cinema’s upcoming spectacles, with both actors linked to portrayals of Lord Rama. But when audiences were asked which actor they were more excited to see as the revered figure on screen, the results of Variety India’s poll revealed a split verdict. Mahesh Babu led on Instagram, while Kapoor took the lead on YouTube.
On Instagram, Mahesh Babu received 62% of the votes, compared with Kapoor’s 38%. The poll had recorded 8,585 responses when the results were captured, with voting still open for another five hours. The result gave Babu a 24% point lead on the platform, reflecting the interest surrounding his appearance in S.S. Rajamouli’s “Varanasi”.
YouTube, however, told a different story. Kapoor secured 68% of the votes, while Babu received 32%, giving the “Ramayana” actor a 36% point lead among voters on the platform. The results put Kapoor ahead on YouTube by a wider margin than Babu’s lead on Instagram, though the two polls represent separate audiences and cannot be combined into a single overall result.
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Kapoor plays Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part adaptation of the Indian epic, “Ramayana”. The first instalment, titled “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend”, also stars Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, with Ravie Dubey playing Lakshman and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. Produced by Namit Malhotra, the film is scheduled to release worldwide on November 5, 2026, with its scale, visual effects and casting making it one of the most anticipated Indian releases of the year.
Babu’s association with Lord Rama comes through “Varanasi”, Rajamouli’s ambitious action-adventure film, in which the actor plays Rudhra. The film’s narrative draws on elements of the Ramayana, and Babu is seen as Rama in a sequence connected to the epic. The distinction is important: Rama is Kapoor’s central role in “Ramayana”, while Babu’s principal character in “Varanasi” is Rudhra.
“Varanasi” also stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Mandakini and Prithviraj Sukumaran as Kumbha. The film is scheduled to arrive in theatres on April 7, 2027, and is expected to span different periods and locations as Rajamouli builds an expansive adventure around its central character.
The poll results offer no outright winner across both platforms. Babu’s “Varanasi” appearance found greater support among Instagram voters, while Kapoor’s portrayal in “Ramayana” led on YouTube. For now, the audience verdict remains divided, with the two actors generating interest through projects that approach the “Ramayana” from different narrative perspectives.
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