Indian filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has revealed that he was moved to tears while watching his son-in-law Ranbir Kapoor portray Lord Ram in the upcoming film Ramayana, particularly during the scene depicting Ram’s exile.
Speaking to Variety India, Bhatt recalled watching the sequence in which Ram is sent into exile for 14 years, shortly before the film’s interval. He said the emotional impact of the scene left his throat choked and he struggled to hold back his tears.
Bhatt said he attended the screening with a group of young filmmakers and writers. People in the theatre were aware that he was sitting there as Kapoor’s father-in-law. When the lights came on, he tried to hide his tears but could not.
Describing the experience, Bhatt said some cinematic moments leave a person speechless, adding that he found it difficult to express his feelings after watching the scene.
The filmmaker also praised director Nitesh Tiwari for his sensitive portrayal of the characters of Ram and Ravana. He appreciated Yash’s performance as Ravana and said Kapoor had revealed a side of his personality through the role of Ram that audiences had not seen in his previous films.
Kapoor’s wife, actress Alia Bhatt, also shared an emotional message expressing pride in her husband and the team behind the ambitious project. She described Ramayana as one of those stories that are larger than any individual.
The film features an ensemble cast, including Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor and Kajal Aggarwal. Sunny Deol is expected to portray Lord Hanuman in the second instalment.
Produced by Namit Malhotra, the two-part Ramayana project reportedly has a combined budget of Rs40 billion.