NOT Ranbir! Salman Khan Was The Original 'Ram' In 'Ramayana', But Sohail's One 'Mistake' Ruined It

Nitesh Tiwari’s highly anticipated mythological epic, Ramayana, has been making waves ever since producer Namit Malhotra teased its first look a few days ago. The film, slated for a Diwali 2026 release, marks a historic milestone in Ranbir Kapoor’s career as he transforms into ‘Lord Ram’, opposite South star Yash as ‘Ravan’. Amid all the excitement surrounding this massive-budget film, a chapter from the past has resurfaced regarding the making and casting of Ramayana.

Long before Ranbir Kapoor was cast in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, the role of ‘Lord Ram’ was set for Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. Yes! Bhaijaan had already picked up the bow and arrow, but an off-screen blunder involving his brother, Sohail Khan, cost him what could have been one of his most iconic roles.

Salman Khan was supposed to be the first ‘Ram’ in Ramayana

The incident dates back to the early 1990s, when Sohail Khan, hot off his directorial debut, Auzaar, was ready with his next ambitious project, a Bollywood adaptation of Ramayana. He had big plans for the film and an even bigger cast. His brother, Salman Khan, who was already a rising superstar at that time, was roped in to play ‘Lord Ram’, and Sonali Bendre as ‘Goddess Sita’.

Actress-director Pooja Bhatt was also a part of the prestigious project. The filming was in full swing, and nearly 40% had already been shot. Salman had even started out with the initial promotions of the film, leaving fans buzzing with his 'Ram' avatar, complete with traditional attire, bow, and arrow. With great initial reactions, the film was set to be nothing short of a mythological spectacle. But destiny had other plans.

How a romantic fallout permanently shelved Sohail Khan’s Ramayana

The preparations were in full swing when an unexpected tragedy hit. According to reports by Mid-Day and India.com, during the shoot of Ramayana, Sohail Khan and Pooja Bhatt fell in love, and they eventually grew quite serious about the relationship. Their bond was so strong that Pooja had even spoken publicly about marriage in a 1995 interview.

Image credit: Stardust

However, things went south when the Khan family’s patriarch, Salim Khan, caught wind of the blooming romance and allegedly advised Sohail to end things with Pooja, fearing complications. This led to a fallout that would eventually be the undoing of Sohail and Salman’s Ramayana.

Pooja Bhatt was reportedly hurt by the Khan family’s cold reception, and things soon turned icy. The actress walked out of the film, and eventually, the entire project came crashing down. Despite Salman Khan’s attempts to salvage the situation, things didn’t change for the better, and eventually, the project was shelved indefinitely. Thus ended Salman Khan and Sonali Bendre’s chances of portraying two of India’s most revered mythological icons.

About Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming magnum opus, Ramayana

Now, nearly three decades after the fallout, Ramayana is back, and this time, it’s bigger than ever. Directed by Dangal and Chhichhore filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari and co-produced by Namit Malhotra and Yash, the upcoming project, a two-part saga, is slated to become the most expensive Indian film ever made. 

In a recent conversation with Prakhar Gupta, Namit Malhotra confirmed that the Ramayana duology’s enormous budget is USD 500 million (approximately Rs. 4000 crore). According to these figures, the film surpasses major Hollywood productions like Dune, The Matrix Part 1 and Part 2, and even the finales of Harry Potter.

In the new rendition of Ramayana, Ranbir Kapoor plays ‘Lord Ram’, Sai Pallavi portrays ‘Sita’, and Yash brings the villainous ‘Ravana’ to life. The film will premiere globally during Diwali 2026 and Diwali 2027, respectively.

Meanwhile, Salman Khan is set to play ‘Colonel Santosh Babu’ in his upcoming film, Battle of Galwan, a high-stakes war drama based on the 2020 India-China conflict. He will star opposite Chitrangada Singh, and fans are already eager to witness this fresh pairing on screen.

Would you have preferred Salman Khan as ‘Lord Ram’ over Ranbir Kapoor? Let us know!

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