Before Ranbir Kapoor, his great-grandfather Prithviraj played Lord Ram
Ranbir Kapoor's casting as Lord Ram comes with an unexpected legacy twist tied to early Indian cinema — one that dates back nearly a century.
As anticipation builds around Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, a fascinating piece of cinematic history has resurfaced. Nearly 92 years before this big-budget retelling, Ranbir’s great-grandfather, Prithviraj Kapoor, had portrayed the deity on screen.
The generational connection adds a unique layer to Ranbir's upcoming film directed by Nitesh Tiwari. The first teaser released on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti on April 2, and the film is already drawing attention for its lavish look and scale.
This legacy moment in Indian cinema, however, is not known to many.
When did Prithviraj Kapoor play Lord Ram?
The connection dates back to 1934, when Prithviraj Kapoor played Lord Ram in the black-and-white film Seeta, directed by Debaki Bose. The film features Durga Khote in the title role of Seeta, while Mukhtar Begum, Dhiraj Bhattacharya and Gul Hamid also feature in its cast. The legendary singer Manna Dey's uncle, KC Dey, composed the music.
Seeta went on to achieve global recognition, and was an early Indian talkie to be showcased at an international film festival. According to IMDb, the film won an honorary diploma at the Venice International Film Festival, marking a significant milestone for Indian cinema on the world stage.
Why Prithviraj Kapoor's casting seems significant today
Ranbir Kapoor steps into the role of Rama nearly a century later, which creates a rare generational full circle. While Prithviraj Kapoor was part of Hindi cinema's evolution in the early stages, Ranbir headlines one of Bollywood's most ambitious modern productions. Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana is a two-part cinematic interpretation of the epic, rumoured to have a combined budget of around Rs 4,000 crore.
Who else stars with Ranbir in Ramayana?
In the upcoming adaptation, Ranbir as Rama features alongside Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. The first instalment of the two-part Ramayana is slated for Diwali 2026 and the second in 2027.
As anticipation builds around Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, a fascinating piece of cinematic history has resurfaced. Nearly 92 years before this big-budget retelling, Ranbir’s great-grandfather, Prithviraj Kapoor, had portrayed the deity on screen.
The generational connection adds a unique layer to Ranbir's upcoming film directed by Nitesh Tiwari. The first teaser released on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti on April 2, and the film is already drawing attention for its lavish look and scale.
This legacy moment in Indian cinema, however, is not known to many.
When did Prithviraj Kapoor play Lord Ram?
The connection dates back to 1934, when Prithviraj Kapoor played Lord Ram in the black-and-white film Seeta, directed by Debaki Bose. The film features Durga Khote in the title role of Seeta, while Mukhtar Begum, Dhiraj Bhattacharya and Gul Hamid also feature in its cast. The legendary singer Manna Dey's uncle, KC Dey, composed the music.
Seeta went on to achieve global recognition, and was an early Indian talkie to be showcased at an international film festival. According to IMDb, the film won an honorary diploma at the Venice International Film Festival, marking a significant milestone for Indian cinema on the world stage.
Why Prithviraj Kapoor's casting seems significant today
Ranbir Kapoor steps into the role of Rama nearly a century later, which creates a rare generational full circle. While Prithviraj Kapoor was part of Hindi cinema's evolution in the early stages, Ranbir headlines one of Bollywood's most ambitious modern productions. Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana is a two-part cinematic interpretation of the epic, rumoured to have a combined budget of around Rs 4,000 crore.
Who else stars with Ranbir in Ramayana?
In the upcoming adaptation, Ranbir as Rama features alongside Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. The first instalment of the two-part Ramayana is slated for Diwali 2026 and the second in 2027.
