Actor Dev Sharma, set to play Lord Ram in the upcoming film Shri Ramayan Katha releasing on 25 September, has revealed he was deeply hesitant about accepting the role — and that it took a quiet word from his late father to change his mind. Speaking to reporters, Sharma recalled his initial scepticism when director Abhishek Singh first approached him.

The Call That Started It All

Sharma said the offer arrived on an ordinary Sunday morning. 'I still remember it was Sunday. I was eating aloo parathas at around 11 or 12 on Sunday. And I get a call from Abhishek Ji. And he said, 'Sir, we belong from here and we are making a Ramayan,'' the actor recalled. His first instinct was that the role being offered was either Lakshman or Ravan — characters he felt were closer to his established screen persona. 'I said, 'Sir, I won't do Ramayan. You must have offered for Lakshman, right? Or for Ravan?'' he said.

Why Sharma Doubted He Could Play Ram

The actor explained that the roles he had previously inhabited were largely modern or high-energy — not the meditative gravitas traditionally associated with Lord Ram. 'Because I myself, so far, whatever characters I have played so far, I am a very modern guy in that. Or I can do something loud very easily. I feel that's my forte. I can easily portray all those characters,' he said. When director Singh insisted he was envisioning him specifically as Ram, Sharma admitted he was taken aback. 'I asked him to repeat what he was saying. I said, 'You are saying Ram?' He said, 'No, I am seeing you in Ram.' And I was like, 'Sir, I am not completely convinced with this,'' he recounted.

The Shadow of a ₹1,200 Crore Rival

A second layer of doubt concerned the competitive landscape. A big-budget Ramayan starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi is already in production, reportedly made on a budget of ₹1,200 crore. 'Already a Ramayan of ₹1,200 crore is being made with such big stars. So why do you want to make this film?' Sharma recalled asking the makers. The question was not merely commercial — it reflected a genuine concern about whether the project could carve out its own identity alongside such a well-resourced production.

A Father's Simple Advice

The turning point was a remark from Dev Sharma's late father, who was seated beside him during the call. Sharma lost his father two years ago. 'My dad was sitting next to me. He is no more. I lost him two years ago. But he was sitting right next to me. And he said, 'Rather than asking so many questions, why don't you just go and meet them?'' the actor said. He had planned to spend that Sunday with his father, but chose instead to follow the advice, meet the team, and eventually sign on. Notably, the memory of that conversation now carries an added emotional weight given that his father did not live to see the film's release.

What Sets Shri Ramayan Katha Apart

Sharma described the film as striving for authenticity while also building a contemporary connection. 'There is a very big part which is a little different from other Ramayanas. At the same time, the authenticity of Ramayana, which we have heard, seen and read from history, is all the same. But today's generation, for them, there is something to connect,' he said. Shri Ramayan Katha is directed by Abhishek Singh and is scheduled for release on 25 September 2026. With two Ramayan-based films now set to reach audiences in close succession, how Indian cinema-goers respond to both will be closely watched by the industry.