The promotion campaign of Nitesh Tiwariit is highly anticipatedRamayana‘ kicked off in the US over the weekend, with the film’s cast and filmmakers attending San Diego Comic-Con for a panel discussion and select interviews. During the event, Yashwho plays Ravana, spoke candidly about acting in a role that has been played by countless actors over the decades.
Yash admits to “pressures” while playing Ravana
In an interview with IGN, Yash joined the co-star Ranbir Kapoordirector Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra. Talking about taking on Ravana, he said, “As a kid, we’ve all heard this story. (It’s) probably the first story I ever heard. My grandfather used to tell me these stories. You have your imagination and you’ve seen so many people portray it in so many ways. So what you bring as an actor and what’s your understanding of the character was a challenge. Fortunately, my director and the writers gave me that space to play this character in a different way.“Yash also admitted that the weight of previous performances added pressure to his performance. He added: “If you know the character and everyone is aware of it, then it becomes a challenge. If it’s a new film where you’re telling a new story, whatever you do, it becomes the character. But if people already have an image of it, because so many people have played it in different ways, it’s an extra pressure for an actor. And hopefully people like it.”
‘The legacy of Ramayana on screen
The “Ramayana” remains one of the world’s oldest and most enduring epics, having been adapted into films, TV shows and musicals hundreds of times in India. Some of his most iconic screen portrayals include the version of Telugu icon NT Rama Rao in the 1960s and Arvind Trivedi’s performance in the 1988 TV serial.
More about ‘Ramayana’ by Nitesh Tiwari
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, ‘Ramayana’ is an epic in two parts, with the first installment opening in theaters this November. Alongside Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Yash as Ravana, the film stars Sai Pallavi as Sita, along with Ravie Dubey, Sunny DeolRakul Preet Singh, Lara Dutta, Arun Govil, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor and a great cast.