Bengaluru: Kannada actor Yash has shared how his seven-year-old son, Yatharv, reacted to learning that his father would play Ravana in director Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming film Ramayana: Part 1. Familiar with the epic since childhood, Yatharv initially struggled to understand why Yash was not playing Rama, the central hero of the story.
In a recent conversation with television presenter Suma Kanakala, Yash recalled the questions his son asked after learning about his casting. The actor said his children had grown up listening to the Ramayana from their grandparents, which made the announcement particularly confusing for Yatharv.
The young boy reportedly asked his father, “You are Ravana?! How can you be Ravana? Aren’t you Rama?”
Yash explained that he was playing a character in a film and that his real-life identity was different from the role. However, the explanation led to another question from his son: “So, who do I root for?”
The exchange gave Yash an opportunity to explain the difference between the moral lessons of the epic and the demands of acting.
Yatharv struggles to accept Yash as Ravana
Yash said his son considers his father a hero, making it difficult for him to associate him with Ravana, who is traditionally portrayed as the antagonist in the Ramayana.
Recalling the conversation, the actor said: “For a son, his father is his hero. Since he knows the story of the Ramayana, he asked me, ‘You are Ravana?! How can you be Ravana? Aren’t you Rama?’ So, I said, ‘Yes, I am Rama in real life, but in the movie, I am playing Ravana.’ But he was like, ‘Then you are the bad guy.’”
Yash said he tried to explain cinema and acting to his son with the help of drawings and illustrations. He wanted Yatharv to understand that an actor’s screen character does not necessarily represent the person playing the role.
However, the conversation did not end there. Yatharv’s next question was about which character he should support while watching the film.
The actor admitted that this was a complicated question, particularly because the story has a clear moral distinction between Rama and Ravana.
Yash explains why audiences should follow Rama
Yash said he used the opportunity to explain that while Ravana may appear powerful, wealthy and impressive, the central values of the epic are represented by Rama.
He also acknowledged that audiences familiar with his work might have similar questions about his decision to play Ravana. The actor said some viewers could find it difficult to accept him as the antagonist, particularly in important sequences such as Sita’s abduction.
Explaining how he answered his son, Yash said: “When we listen to the story, it is Rama whom everybody has to follow. Ravana might look glamorous, fancy, or powerful. But ultimately, if you have to win, you have to understand the essence of Lord Rama.”
He then added that his son could support him as an actor while watching the film, without confusing the character with the larger message of the epic.
“However, in the movie, you can root for me. But don’t take it personally,” Yash told him.
The actor’s explanation reflected the distinction between portraying a complex antagonist on screen and endorsing the character’s actions. For Yash, playing Ravana is an acting challenge, while the moral message of the Ramayana remains separate from his performance.
Son asks whether Ravana dies in the film
Yash also recalled another question from Yatharv that showed how closely the young boy was following the story.
After understanding that his father would play Ravana, Yatharv asked: “But do you die? Do you lose?”
The question put Yash in another difficult position because the character’s fate is already familiar to those who know the epic.
The actor tried to reassure his son by reminding him that he was only portraying a fictional character in a film.
“Listen, I am just playing that role. It’s a different thing,” Yash told him.
Yash said he had not anticipated this kind of reaction from his son while working on the film. Although he had considered how his fans might respond to seeing him in a negative role, he had not thought about the possibility of having to explain the casting decision to his child.
“I didn’t think of it when I was doing the movie. I was thinking of my fans for sure. But I didn’t think of my son or the possibility that he would ask me this question one day,” the actor said.
He added that he found the exchange interesting but felt that Yatharv would understand the difference between an actor and a character better as he grew older.
Why Yash’s Ravana role is attracting attention
Yash’s casting as Ravana has become one of the major talking points surrounding Ramayana: Part 1. The actor, who gained nationwide recognition through the KGF franchise, is taking on a character that occupies a central place in one of India’s most widely known epics.
Ravana is traditionally remembered as the king of Lanka who abducted Sita, leading to the conflict with Rama. The character is also depicted in different traditions as a powerful ruler and a learned figure. This combination of qualities gives actors considerable scope to explore the character’s personality and motivations.
Yash’s account of his son’s reaction also highlights the challenge of portraying a character who is widely associated with wrongdoing in a story familiar to generations of Indian families.
For audiences, the film will offer an opportunity to see how the actor approaches the role. His comments suggest that he is aware of the expectations attached to the character and the questions that may arise when a popular star takes on the role of the epic’s antagonist.
About Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana: Part 1 features a prominent cast, with Ranbir Kapoor playing Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. Yash plays Ravana.
The mythological action film is backed by producer Namit Malhotra. Its music is composed by Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman, bringing together two internationally recognised composers for the project.
The film is planned as the first instalment of a two-part franchise. The overall project has been mounted on a reported budget of Rs 4,000 crore, making it one of the most ambitious Indian film productions.
Ramayana: Part 1 is scheduled to release in cinemas on November 5, 2026.
As anticipation builds, Yash’s portrayal of Ravana is likely to remain a major point of discussion. His son’s innocent questions have already captured the unusual challenge of the role: convincing audiences to watch a familiar antagonist through the lens of a new cinematic performance without losing sight of the epic’s central message.