Casting director Mukesh Chhabra recently spoke about the casting choices for director Nitesh Tiwari’s highly anticipated Ramayana adaptation. During an appearance on Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast, Mukesh discussed the complex nature of Raavan, a character often portrayed as the antagonist in the Hindu epic. Rumours suggest that KGF star Yash is being considered for the role. Mukesh also spoke about Ranbir Kapoor portraying Lord Rama and shared that a well-known TV actor has been chosen for the role of Lakshman.
“Raavan was right in his own way”
When asked about the qualities he was looking for while casting Raavan, and whether ‘evil’ was a defining trait, Mukesh provided an intriguing perspective. “Yaar woh bhi toh pyaar mein hi they na (He was also in love, wasn’t he)?” Mukesh remarked, adding, “He wanted revenge, but he was in love as well. As far as I understand Raavan, he was evil and vengeful, but his revenge was driven by love for his sister. He had to do what he had to do for his sister. Woh bhi apni taraf se theek they (He was right in his own way). In war, both sides believe they’re on the right side. But ultimately, Raavan was driven by love.”
Well Known actor as Hanuman, TV actor as Lakshman
Mukesh shared more details about the casting process for the film, revealing that while a well-known actor has been secured for the role of Hanuman, they opted for a newcomer to play Lakshman. He spoke about the challenges he faced in casting the role of Lakshman because many established actors were hesitant to play a supporting role to Ranbir Kapoor. Ultimately, they decided to go with a fresh face from the television industry.
“We’ve found a lovely actor for Lakshman. A lot of people auditioned for the role. But I’m very happy with the actor we’ve gone with, this is going to be his first film in Bollywood,” he said
Describing Lakshman’s character, Mukesh explained that his key trait is his deep love and respect for his brother, Lord Rama. The role required someone who could portray a character that is simple and straightforward, yet dignified and non-dominating in his interactions. This combination made it difficult to find the right fit. “It was the last role we cast. We’ve chosen a young actor who has worked a lot in television; he’s a lovely guy. We couldn’t have found a better Lakshman. I’m very happy that the people we’d initially approached all said no. Two or three people said no, because they think that Ram and Lakshman will always have to be together,” Mukesh added.