Ramanand Sagar's Grandson Says Ranbir Kapoor "Has A Lot Of Baggage" After Animal, Ahead Of Ramayana Release

The Celebrity Hour Desk

The trailer for Nitesh Tiwari's mega-budget mythological epic Ramayana has barely settled into the news cycle, and it's already stirring up a fresh round of debate — this time from a voice with a very personal stake in the subject.

Shiv Sagar, grandson of the legendary Ramanand Sagar (whose 1987 televised Ramayan remains one of Indian television's most iconic productions), has weighed in on the casting of the upcoming two-part film, and his comments are making the rounds on social media.

"Not Sure Of Ranbir Kapoor"

In a video shared by The Climax India, Shiv Sagar reviewed the newly released trailer and didn't hold back on his mixed feelings about the lead cast. While he was full of praise for Yash and Sai Pallavi, he was noticeably more hesitant about Ranbir Kapoor stepping into the role of Lord Ram.

He explained that South Indian actors like Yash and Sai Pallavi bring an innate cultural connection to mythological storytelling, having grown up with these tales told to them by their grandparents. That familiarity, he said, comes through in how naturally they inhabit their characters as Ravana and Sita respectively.

Ranbir's casting drew a different reaction. According to Shiv, the makers have traditionally cast fresh faces for the role of Lord Ram — and Ranbir, in his view, comes with considerable "baggage," particularly after his intense, morally complex performance in last year's blockbuster Animal. The image of a righteous, dutiful Ram, he suggested, may sit awkwardly against Ranbir's most recent — and most talked-about — on-screen persona.

Praise Where It's Due

To be clear, Shiv Sagar's take wasn't a takedown of the film itself. He had plenty of good things to say about the trailer's visual scale, calling out director Nitesh Tiwari's vision as "beautifully conceptualised." He specifically pointed to Shurpanakha's tiger-chariot entrance and the design of the Pushpak Vimana as standout moments, and expressed hope that the film succeeds in taking Indian mythology to a global audience.

About Ramayana

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and backed by producer Namit Malhotra, Ramayana is one of the most ambitious Indian film productions to date, reportedly made on a budget upwards of $100 million. The film stars:

Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram (also playing Parashuram in a double role)

Sai Pallavi as Sita

Yash as Ravana

Sunny Deol as Hanuman

Ravi Dubey as Lakshmana

The score features a rare collaboration between Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman. The project is being released as a two-part saga, with Part 1 slated for Diwali 2026 and Part 2 to follow during Diwali 2027.

Whether or not the "Animal baggage" comment holds up once audiences see Ranbir in full Ram avatar remains to be seen — but it's clear the internet isn't done debating this casting just yet.

This article is based on video commentary shared by The Climax India and subsequent media coverage.