Mumbai: Actor Dev Sharma has revealed that he was twice rejected for the role of Lakshman in major screen adaptations of the Ramayana, including Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming Ramayana starring Ranbir Kapoor. The actor said his height became a deciding factor in both projects and that the repeated setbacks left him disheartened.
Dev Sharma, who will now portray Lord Ram in Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha, opened up about his experience at the film’s trailer launch on Thursday. He recalled reaching advanced stages of the audition and look-test process for the role of Lakshman in both Adipurush and Tiwari’s Ramayana.
The actor said the two rejections made him wonder whether his association with the epic was simply not meant to happen.
Dev Sharma was considered for Lakshman
Speaking about his earlier experiences, Dev said he had been offered the role of Lakshman in two different Ramayana adaptations. He revealed that his look tests had progressed significantly before the casting plans changed.
“Before this, I was offered the role of Lakshman in both Ramayanas, one of which is in the works and the other one is already out. My look tests were also almost finalised, but things didn’t work out,” he said.
According to the actor, physical proportions between the actors portraying Ram and Lakshman became an issue during the casting process.
He explained that in one project, he was around two inches taller than the actor playing Ram, while in the other, his physical build was considered too similar in size to the actor portraying Lord Ram.
Rejections left Dev Sharma disheartened
Dev said the setbacks affected him because he had come close to securing the role on both occasions.
“Kahin mein jo Ram ji bane the unse do inch lamba tha isliye nahi ho paya aur kahin aisa tha ki I was as huge as Prabhu Shri Ram jo play kar rahe the,” he said.
Explaining the impact of the rejections, the actor said he began feeling that perhaps his connection with the Ramayana was not meant to happen.
He added that although several aspects of the casting process had nearly been finalised, the projects ultimately did not work out for him.
The actor’s comments referred to Adipurush, directed by Om Raut, and Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming Ramayana. In Adipurush, Prabhas played Lord Rama, Kriti Sanon portrayed Sita, Saif Ali Khan played Ravana and Sunny Singh appeared as Lakshman.
Dev initially refused another Ramayana project
The actor’s repeated experiences had such an impact on him that he initially refused when he was approached for Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha.
Dev recalled receiving a call from director Abhishek Singh, who told him that the team was making a film based on the Ramayana. Instead of hearing the complete offer, Dev said he immediately told the director that he did not want to play Lakshman or be part of another Ramayana project.
“Mujhe pehli baar Abhishek Singh ka phone aaya toh inhone bataya ki ‘sir hum ek film bana rahe hai Ramayana’ toh maine sunte hi bola ki main Lakshman bhi nahi karunga aur Ramayana bhi nahi karni,” he recalled.
Dev said he was sitting with his father when the conversation took place. His father advised him to hear the filmmakers out before making a decision.
The actor then explained why he was reluctant to return to a project connected with the epic.
“I told him, ‘This has happened twice, and it broke my heart,’” Dev said.
Repeated setbacks eventually led to Lord Ram
What Dev initially viewed as another possible disappointment eventually turned into an opportunity to portray Lord Ram himself.
Rather than returning as Lakshman, the actor was eventually cast as the central character in Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha. His journey from being rejected twice for the role of Lakshman to playing Ram has become an important part of the film’s promotional conversations.
The actor’s account also highlights the role that physical appearance and screen proportions can play in casting decisions for mythological projects, where filmmakers often pay close attention to how characters appear alongside one another.
Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana has Ravi Dubey as Lakshman
Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita. Television and film actor Ravi Dubey has been cast as Lakshman, while Kannada star Yash is set to portray Ravana.
The film is being made as a large-scale adaptation of the epic and has attracted considerable attention because of its ensemble cast. The first instalment is slated for a Diwali 2026 theatrical release.
Dev’s revelation adds another perspective to the casting process behind the project, although his comments do not suggest that his rejection was related to any other actor’s performance or suitability for the role.
What is Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha about?
Dev Sharma’s Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha is another upcoming cinematic adaptation of the Ramayana. The film has cast Dev as Lord Ram, giving the actor an opportunity to play a character he had not originally expected to portray after his earlier experiences with the epic.
The actor’s comments suggest that the role came at a time when he had already begun distancing himself from the possibility of appearing in another Ramayana adaptation.
His initial reluctance eventually changed after he heard the filmmakers’ complete vision for the project.
Dev Sharma’s Ramayana journey comes full circle
Dev Sharma’s journey has taken an unexpected turn. After two unsuccessful attempts to play Lakshman, he now leads a Ramayana adaptation as Lord Ram.
For the actor, the experience appears to have transformed what he saw as repeated rejection into a new opportunity. While his height prevented him from taking on the role of Lakshman in the earlier projects, it ultimately did not prevent him from becoming part of a Ramayana film.
Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha is scheduled to release in theatres on September 25.