Ranbir Kapoor did not arrive on the Ramayana set as a blank slate. In an interview with Review Nation after the film’s Los Angeles premiere, he said his preparation for Lord Rama began about a year and a half before the cameras rolled.
18 months before the bow
The actor trained with an Indian Olympian to learn correct archery technique. He also spent time in New York for classes, and attended workshops on movement, breathing and physicality. The timeline matters: an 18-month runway is far longer than the crash course actors often squeeze in before an action-heavy schedule.
“Lord Rama was a great archer. So, about a year and a half before we started filming, I worked with an Indian Olympian on the right technique.”
For Kapoor, technique was only the entry point. Reading different interpretations helped, but the core question was about the soul he would bring to a figure who already carries centuries of meaning for audiences.
“I could be playing Lord Rama, but the soul is mine,” he said, pointing to the difference between imitating a character and transforming himself from within.
Terry Notary’s movement school
Beyond archery, action director Terry Notary shaped the physical performance. Known for the Planet of the Apes franchise, X2 and Superman Returns, Notary ran workshops on breathing techniques, walking, climbing a tree and body language rather than only combat choreography.
Kapoor said actors are lucky to pick up new skills with each film, but Ramayana felt special because its story and characters are so deeply loved.
The release picture
- Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra.
- Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana.
- Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman.
- First part of a planned two-part saga.
- Worldwide theatrical release on November 5, 2026.
The film premiered at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on October 27, giving the epic an international spotlight before its global rollout.
Why the prep matters
The archery is not just an action beat. Lord Rama is defined in the epic as a great archer, and the bow is woven through key scenes of the first chapter. Audiences familiar with the story will watch closely how Kapoor carries that skill.
An 18-month commitment, supported by an Indian Olympian and a movement specialist, signals that the production is treating physical authenticity as seriously as spectacle. It also gives Kapoor a clear public answer about how he approached a role that invites enormous scrutiny.
Source: Hindustan Times