Oct 23, 2026 8:30pm IST
Ranbir Kapoor Or Mahesh Babu: Who Are You Most Excited To See Play Lord Ram?
Two of Indian cinema’s biggest upcoming spectacles have brought the spotlight back to one of the most revered figures in the ‘Ramayana.’ Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s “Ramayana,” while Mahesh Babu will portray the role in a sequence in S.S. Rajamouli’s “Varanasi.” With audiences already talking their screen transformations, Variety India’s poll gives fans a chance to share which avatar has captured your imagination.
Kapoor’s look as Lord Rama from “Ramayana” was officially unveiled earlier this year, giving audiences their first glimpse of the actor in the role. The film, envisioned as a two-part adaptation of the epic, also stars Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman and Sunny Deol as Hanuman.
Backed by producer Namit Malhotra, the ambitious project has generated considerable anticipation, with Kapoor’s casting and transformation becoming major talking points.
Related Stories
Mahesh Babu’s association with Lord Rama comes through “Varanasi,” Rajamouli’s globe-trotting action-adventure that moves across timelines and draws on an episode from the Ramayana. The filmmaker has spoken about the epic's importance in his storytelling, while Mahesh Babu has discussed the physical preparation required to embody Rama’s distinctive posture and movement for the film.
An image claiming to show Babu as Lord Rama circulated online earlier this year, prompting comparisons with Kapoor’s look. However, the image was later identified as fan-made and has not been authenticated by the makers.
The two films approach their material differently. “Ramayana” is a cinematic retelling of the epic, with Kapoor taking on the central role of Rama, while “Varanasi” incorporates a Ramayana episode into a larger adventure spanning different places and periods. Babu’s principal character in the latter is Rudhra, with his appearance as Rama forming part of the film’s narrative.
Cast your vote to share whose look as Lord Rama you are more excited to see on screen: Ranbir Kapoor’s avatar in “Ramayana” or Mahesh Babu’s appearance in “Varanasi”?
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.