Mumbai: Ranbir Kapoor has revealed that he trained with an Indian Olympian for 18 months to master archery techniques ahead of filming Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’.
The actor also underwent workshops focused on movement, breathing and physicality to prepare for his role as Lord Rama.
With ‘Ramayana: Part 1’ set to hit theatres on November 5, Ranbir recently opened up about the extensive preparation that went into bringing the mythological character to life.
The film premiered at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on October 27.
In a post-premiere interview, the actor spoke about working with an Indian Olympian to learn the correct archery techniques and attending workshops to understand the physicality of his character.
“Lord Rama was a great archer. So, about a year and a half before we started filming, I worked with an Indian Olympian on the right technique. I was in New York for some time, and I also took some classes. The deeper part, however, was to understand the essence of who Lord Rama is. You can read as much as you want and see different interpretations, but eventually, what soul are you putting into the character? I could be playing Lord Rama, but the soul is mine. How do I change that? How do I bring a new soul?” Ranbir said.
The actor also credited action director Terry Notary, whose credits include the Planet of the Apes franchise, X2 and Superman Returns.
He explained that the workshops went beyond combat training, focusing on movement, body language and physical expression.
“Terry Notary had workshops where he taught us breathing techniques, how to walk, how to climb a tree and things like that. As actors, we are so lucky and grateful that we get to learn new skills with new movies. But Ramayana will always be special because it is the most beloved story with beloved characters. So doing all of this was awesome,” Ranbir said.
Ranbir Kapoor on Preparing for Lord Rama:✨🏹
“I took training from an Indian Olympian archer for a year and a half to get the technique right but that’s all superficial stuff you get to do as an actor. The real challenge is understanding the essence of who Lord Rama is and what soul you bring to the character, because eventually, the soul is yours.”
— 𝓐𝔂𝓪𝓷 🚩 (@behind_you_rk) November 2, 2026
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana: Part 1 is the first instalment of a planned two-part cinematic adaptation of the Indian epic.
The film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman.
