Ranbir Kapoor headlines Ramayana years after Salman Khan’s elusive Ram portrayal faded into silence

Before Ranbir Kapoor was chosen as Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming epic Ramayana, there was a different name locked in—Salman Khan. Back in the 1990s, the superstar was set to headline a Ramayana adaptation, directed by his brother Sohail Khan. But the film never saw the light of day. And the reason wasn’t budget or casting. It was personal.

Sohail, who had just finished Auzaar, had ambitious plans for a mythological spectacle. He cast Salman as Lord Ram and Sonali Bendre as Sita. Pooja Bhatt, too, had a key role. Shooting had already covered about 40% of the film, and promotional activities had kicked off. Salman even posed in full Ram attire—complete with bow and arrow—for early buzz. But behind the scenes, something was unraveling.

During the shoot, Sohail and Pooja Bhatt reportedly got involved romantically. According to multiple reports including Mid-Day and India.com, their relationship grew serious enough that Pooja had publicly mentioned marriage plans in a 1995 interview. But when Salim Khan learned of the romance, he reportedly advised Sohail to break it off—believing it could lead to family complications.

The split was not just personal. It bled into the film’s future. Pooja Bhatt felt alienated and soon walked out of the project. That decision caused a domino effect. With one lead gone and tension building, the film crumbled. Despite Salman’s efforts to keep things on track, the project was eventually shelved.

Three decades later, Ramayana is back—but in a different form. This time, it's directed by Nitesh Tiwari with Ranbir Kapoor playing Ram and Yash as Ravan. The film’s budget is reported to be around USD 500 million (approx. Rs 4000 crore), making it one of India’s costliest productions. It will release in two parts, with a Diwali 2026 premiere locked in.

As for Salman Khan, he’s now preparing for Battle of Galwan, where he’ll portray Colonel Santosh Babu alongside Chitrangada Singh. A different genre, a different battlefield—but still, a big stage.