Mukesh Khanna doesn't agree with Ranbir Kapoor playing the role of Ram; 'If you are a lustful bastard…'

Mukesh Khanna, famous for his character Shaktimaan and his outspoken opinions, has expressed his doubts about Ranbir Kapoor playing the role of Lord Ram in Nitish Tiwari's ambitious project Ramayan. The veteran actor expressed concerns over Ranbir's ability to play the iconic character and cited his public image and recent roles as potential obstacles.

In an interview with Midday, Mukesh was initially hesitant to comment, saying, “I will not say anything about this, if I do, they will blame me for commenting about everyone and everything. Will make allegations. They have ruined my reputation.” However, he eventually shared his views, drawing comparisons to the iconic role of Rama by Arun Govil in the 1987 television adaptation of the epic.

Mukesh pointed out that Arun Govil's performance has set a benchmark, adding, “Whoever plays the role of Ram should not only act like Ram but also look like Ram. If they are lewd ruffians in real life, it will be reflected on the screen. No one playing the character of Ram can afford to party and drink in real life. Mukesh also recently mentioned Ranbir's role in Animal, which showed a darker, aggressive side of the actor. He said, “Ranbir Kapoor is the symbol of the Kapoor family. He is a great actor, there is no doubt about that. But I wonder looking at his face – does he look like Ram? He has just done Animal, and his negative personality in that film may affect the audience's image of him as Ram.”