Will the audience accept Ranbir Kapoor as Ram in Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming 'Ramayana'? asks Sunil Lahri

Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming film, 'Ramayana', is generating significant buzz, particularly with the casting of Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi. Earlier, Dipika Chikjlia, who is known for her role of Sita in Ramanand Sagar’s 'Ramayan', expressed her displeasure that people keep remaking the 'Ramayana'.
Veteran actor Sunil Lahri, also known as Laxman in an interview with Hindustan Times, has shared his views about the much-talked-about Ranbir Kapoor-starrer.He expressed that calling Ranbir Ram is "unacceptable to the audience." Lahri mentioned, "From the poster, I liked his look. It's very nice, and since he's so smart, he will look perfect in that role. But I don't know how many people will accept him as Ram."
The senior actor explained that he feels it would be better to choose someone without any preconceived image or baggage. He acknowledged that Ranbir Kapoor is indeed a talented actor with a significant family legacy and a strong body of work. While he expressed confidence that Ranbir would do justice to the role, he also pointed out the challenge of changing people's perceptions.
Sunil emphasized that Ranbir would need to surpass his previous performances and excel in portraying Lord Ram, especially considering his recent role in Animal, which might make it difficult for audiences to accept him in such a contrasting role.
The 63-year-old shared that, while he hasn't seen any of Sai Pallavi's work, he's not entirely convinced by her looks for the role of Sita. He expressed that, in his perception, Sita should have a very beautiful and flawless face, and he doesn't believe Sai's face carries that level of perfection. He added that in Indian mindsets, all the goddesses are considered extraordinary and out of this world, so he's unsure how they will make Sai Pallavi look attractive enough for Raavan to fall for her.
Lahri also expressed his dissatisfaction upon hearing that Arun Govil, who played Ram in the original Ramayana, will now portray the character of Dashrath in Tiwari’s film. He remarked, "He is diminishing his own personality. If such an offer were presented to me, I wouldn't have accepted it. I have great respect for Arun; he is like an elder brother to me. In fact, I wouldn't have agreed to any other role either."
Besides 'Ramayana' Ranbir will also be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Love and War' with Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal.