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Ranbir Kapoor voiced discomfort with viewers dismissing advanced visual effects as artificial intelligence creations, stressing instead the extensive human labour behind each frame in Ramayana: Rise of a Legend. The actor, who portrays Lord Rama in the Nitesh Tiwari-directed production, made the remarks during promotional interviews as the film prepares for its November 5 release across multiple languages including English. Director Nitesh Tiwari separately clarified to international media that AI is deployed only for lip synchronization in dubbed versions to enable wider accessibility, a Bollywood Hungama report noted. The multilingual rollout aligns with the project’s aim to reach global audiences ahead of Diwali.
Kapoor told the BBC that becoming a father to his daughter Raha has transformed his approach to the Rama role, coinciding with an intensified personal resolve to improve as a person. Raha, who turns four on November 6 just before the festival of lights, has visited the film sets multiple times and even participated in a shot alongside Sai Pallavi and Ravie Dubey, according to the actor’s account. He described Raha as the diya of his life and expressed hopes that she receives abundant blessings, good vibes and positivity, The Economic Times reported from the same discussion. The convergence of the film’s release with his daughter’s milestones has added a deeply personal layer to the project.
The star has separately indicated a preference for being identified with Indian cinema rather than the term Bollywood, which he views as a derivative of Hollywood that overlooks the country’s linguistic and cultural diversity. In remarks to a British outlet covered by Hindustan Times, Kapoor said he aspires to represent Indian cinema where authentic, rooted storytelling transcends borders and connects universally as seen in acclaimed films from other regions. This outlook informs the international promotional efforts for Ramayana, which features an ensemble cast including Yash as Ravana and Sunny Deol as Hanuman.
Broader conversations in the Indian film industry have highlighted AI’s growing presence as a tool for script development, post-production efficiencies and even virtual character creation, though practitioners caution against over-reliance. Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur described AI as an existential societal shift that could reshape production models and introduce AI-generated stars while preserving the human essence of wonder and uncertainty in a detailed YouTube interview. Kapoor has concurred that the technology can enhance filmmaking techniques and conserve time but ultimately cannot supplant dedicated human effort, Variety India reported from recent promotions.
Fatherhood has also led Kapoor to reassess notions of detachment, with daily rituals now including Amitabh Bachchan’s rendition of the Hanuman Chalisa that has played every morning since Raha’s birth. The actor shared this insight during an appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati covered by The Hawk, linking it to the values he aims to instill. Such personal evolution appears to have enriched his interpretation of Rama’s character defined by duty, morality and resilience across the epic narrative.
The production stands among the most ambitious in recent Indian cinema history, involving extensive IMAX-captured action sequences and visual effects workloads that demanded months of precision work from large teams. An earlier Collider interview with Kapoor detailed the physical and emotional demands of the six-hour epic shoot and his initial hesitation before accepting the iconic part. The film’s timing during Diwali is expected to capitalise on heightened festive viewership across domestic and international markets.
