Nitish Bharadwaj tells Ranbir Kapoor to avoid films like Animal after Ramayana

Veteran actor Nitish Bharadwaj, best known for playing Lord Krishna in BR Chopra's Mahabharat, has a piece of advice for Ranbir Kapoor: stay away from violent films like Animal after you finish Ramayana.

Bharadwaj's remarks come as Ranbir gears up to play Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious adaptation of the epic. The actor starred in Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal last year, a film that drew both box office success and criticism for its graphic violence and portrayal of masculinity.

'Do not pollute your vaani'

In an interview, Bharadwaj said he hopes Ranbir chooses his projects carefully once he steps into the role of Lord Ram. 'I would say, after doing Ramayana, please do not do films like Animal. Please do not pollute your vaani anymore,' he stated.

The actor emphasised that taking on a divine character carries responsibility. 'When you play God on screen, it leaves an impression on the audience. Your words and actions after that matter,' he added.

What Bharadwaj means by 'vaani'

The term 'vaani' refers to speech or expression. Bharadwaj's comment suggests that the language and themes of a film like Animal—which featured explicit dialogues and violent imagery—would clash with the sacredness associated with the Ramayana.

He did not specify whether he was referring to Animal's content or the public persona Ranbir might adopt after the epic. Industry observers note that actors often face scrutiny about their choice of roles after portraying mythological figures.

Ranbir Kapoor's upcoming projects

Ranbir is currently filming Ramayana, a multi-part project directed by Nitesh Tiwari. The film also stars Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Raavan. It is expected to be one of the biggest Indian productions in recent years.

Post Ramayana, Ranbir has several projects lined up, including a sequel to Animal and a film with Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He has not yet responded to Bharadwaj's remarks.

Not the first time Bharadwaj has spoken up

This is not the first instance of Bharadwaj offering guidance to younger actors. He has previously spoken about the discipline required when playing mythological characters. In 2022, he had similar advice for actors taking on roles in the OTT adaptation of Mahabharat.

His comments have sparked debate online. Some fans agree that Ranbir should choose cleaner roles after Ramayana, while others argue that actors should not be boxed into one type of cinema.

What remains to be seen is whether Ranbir and his team will take the advice to heart, or if the actor will continue to balance epic mythology with edgy commercial cinema.