Fan gifts Ranbir Kapoor a Ram Mandir vest, says he sees Arun Govil in actor
Ranbir Kapoor's portrayal of Lord Rama sparked comparisons to Arun Govil. A fan gifted him a Ram Mandir-inspired vest at a special screening at Los Angeles. Here's what happened.
A fan reaction comparing Ranbir Kapoor to veteran actor Arun Govil has caught attention ahead of the teaser release of Ramayana Part One. At a special screening in Los Angeles, a viewer praised Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Rama, saying he was “reminded of Arun Govil," long regarded as the definitive on-screen Ram.
The moment gained traction after a video surfaced showing a fan gifting Kapoor a Ram Mandir-inspired vest. The gesture followed an early teaser viewing attended by director Nitesh Tiwari, producer Namit Malhotra and the actor himself. Kapoor appeared appreciative, acknowledging the fan’s praise as anticipation builds for the film.
What happened at the Los Angeles screening?
The private screening offered a first look at the teaser, titled Rama, ahead of its official release on April 2, coinciding with Hanuman Jayanti. A South Asian boutique, Nazranaa, later posted footage of their representative presenting Kapoor with the themed vest. In its caption, the boutique described the teaser as “goosebump-inducing” and praised the scale of the project.
Why is Ranbir Kapoor being compared to Arun Govil?
The comparison stems from the teaser’s early reception among select viewers. Responding to scepticism over Kapoor’s casting, a boutique that shared the video online said the actor’s performance evoked Govil’s iconic portrayal from Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan. Govil, notably, also features in the upcoming film as King Dashrath.
What do we know about Ramayana Part One?
The film, directed by Tiwari, is part of a two-part cinematic adaptation of sage Valmiki's epic. Kapoor stars as Lord Rama, alongside Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana. The project brings together global talent, with music by Hans Zimmer and A R Rahman, and visual effects by DNEG.
Ramayana Part One is slated for release in October 2026, with its sequel expected around Diwali 2027. The early teaser response signals growing curiosity around the film’s scale and its approach to retelling the epic.