Promotions for Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana are set to kick off in earnest with the unveiling of the ‘Rama glimpse’ tomorrow (April 2). The teaser will offer the first look at Ranbir Kapoor as he becomes the latest Indian actor to portray Lord Rama. Over a century of Indian cinema, numerous films have been made on the epic, with countless performers taking on the role of Lord Rama. In an intriguing twist of fate, the first major talkie adaptation of the Ramayana also featured a Kapoor. The acclaimed film was both a critical and commercial hit, and it helped launch several film careers.
The tale of Bollywood’s earliest adaptation of the Ramayana
In 1934, just three years after sound films emerged in India, filmmaker Debaki Bose directed Seeta, based on the Uttar Kaand of the Ramayana. Among the earliest Bengali talkies, the film was later widely released in Hindi, making it one of the first significant Indian movies to transcend language boundaries. Seeta was screened at the Venice Film Festival in 1934, becoming the first Indian talkie to be showcased there, and it earned a diploma of merit for its director at the renowned festival.
The film featured a young Durga Khote in the lead, marking her first role beyond Marathi cinema. She later became a prominent character actor in Bollywood, with notable performances in films such as Mughal-e-Azam, Bobby, Karz, and Abhimaan.
The Kapoor who portrayed Lord Rama
Seeta featured 28-year-old Prithviraj Kapoor in the role of Lord Rama. Having already achieved success with Alam Ara, this film further cemented his status as one of the leading film stars of the time. His younger brother, Trilok Kapoor, appeared as Luv in one of his earliest screen performances.
These two performers were the first members of the Kapoor clan to join the film industry. Prithviraj’s sons—Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, and Shashi Kapoor—later became major stars in their own right. Ranbir, the latest actor to portray Lord Rama, is Raj Kapoor’s grandson. Prithviraj himself was a celebrated film and stage performer, credited with founding Prithvi Theatre and acting in landmark films such as Sikandar, Mughal-e-Azam, and Awara. In Mughal-e-Azam, he and Durga Khote came together again as an on-screen couple after a gap of 26 years.
Concerning the Ramayana
The upcoming Ramayana film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra. In addition to Ranbir portraying Lord Rama, the cast features Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana, and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanumana. The first installment is scheduled to hit theatres this Diwali, with the second part planned for release next year.