Yash Opens Up About Playing Ravana in Ramayana, Says Role Came With ‘Extra Pressure’
Actor Yash has shared his experience of stepping into the role of Ravana in Nitesh Tiwari’s much-awaited film Ramayana, saying the iconic mythological character brought significant responsibility because audiences already have well-established expectations.
The actor spoke during a conversation with IGN at San Diego Comic-Con, where he was joined by co-star Ranbir Kapoor, director Nitesh Tiwari, and producer Namit Malhotra as part of the film’s global promotional campaign.
Yash Says Ravana Was One of His Most Challenging Roles
Speaking about the role, Yash explained that portraying a character deeply rooted in Indian mythology is far more challenging than playing a fictional character created from scratch.
He said that audiences have seen countless interpretations of Ravana over the years, making it difficult for any actor to present a fresh version without inviting comparisons.
According to Yash, the biggest challenge was understanding the motivations behind Ravana’s actions rather than simply recreating previous portrayals.
“When people already know a character and have a fixed image of it, the pressure is naturally higher. I focused on understanding his intentions and tried to bring my own interpretation to the role,” Yash said.
Childhood Stories Helped Shape His Performance
Yash revealed that his connection with the Ramayana dates back to childhood, when his grandfather would narrate stories from the epic.
Those early memories helped him imagine the character, but he also wanted to create a version that felt unique and emotionally grounded.
He credited director Nitesh Tiwari and the film’s writers for giving him the creative freedom to explore Ravana from a different perspective.
The actor expressed hope that audiences would appreciate this fresh interpretation when the film reaches theatres.
Ramayana Team Promotes Film at San Diego Comic-Con
The cast and creators of Ramayana attended San Diego Comic-Con for a panel discussion and media interactions aimed at introducing the ambitious project to a global audience.
The event was initially expected to include the worldwide launch of the film’s first trailer.
However, producer Namit Malhotra later announced that the trailer release had been postponed after the film secured an international distribution partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Sharing the update on social media, Malhotra described the deal as an important milestone in his vision of taking Ramayana to audiences worldwide and confirmed that the trailer would now be unveiled at a later date.
Ramayana Cast and Release Date
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is being made as a two-part cinematic epic.
The film stars:
- Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama
- Yash as Ravana
- Sai Pallavi as Sita
The ensemble cast also includes Ravie Dubey, Sunny Deol, Rakul Preet Singh, Lara Dutta, Arun Govil, Vivek Oberoi, and Kunal Kapoor.
Ramayana: Part One is scheduled to hit theatres during Diwali, while the second installment is planned for release in 2027.
