5 Memorable Actors Who Portrayed Lord Rama Before Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana

Ranbir Kapoor is set to portray Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s highly anticipated two-part epic Ramayana. His first official look was revealed through the teaser titled Rama on Hanuman Jayanti (April 2, 2026), creating massive buzz and quickly trending across social media platforms.

Arun Govil’s portrayal of Lord Ram in Ramayan remains the most iconic and definitive representation of the character in Indian pop culture. His performance, marked by calmness, patience, and divine grace, deeply resonated with audiences, making him a household name. The show’s massive popularity had a huge cultural impact, with streets reportedly emptying during its telecast, and Govil himself receiving immense public reverence, often being treated like the deity in real life.

Himanshu Soni is a well-known Indian television actor recognized for portraying mythological characters, especially Lord Rama. He gained prominence for playing Ram in the TV series Ram Siya Ke Luv Kush (2019–2020), which presents the story of Ram and Sita through the perspective of their sons, Luv and Kush. His performance further strengthened his reputation for bringing divine characters to life on screen.

Gurmeet Choudhary became a household name with his portrayal of Lord Ram in the 2008 TV series Ramayan. His performance stood out for combining physical strength with emotional depth, connecting strongly with modern audiences. The show’s massive success brought him nationwide fame, and he starred opposite Debina Bonnerjee as Sita, with their on-screen chemistry eventually turning into a real-life marriage.

Prabhas portrayed Lord Ram, referred to as Raghava, in the 2023 mythological film Adipurush, directed by Om Raut. The film was a large-scale adaptation of the Ramayana, released in multiple languages across India. Prabhas brought a mix of intensity and calmness to the role, emphasizing the warrior aspect of the character. While some, including S. S. Rajamouli, praised his casting, others criticized his expressions and the heavy use of VFX.

Nitish Bharadwaj, best known for his iconic role as Krishna, also portrayed Lord Ram in the 2002–2003 TV series Ramayan, produced by B.R. Chopra. He starred opposite Smriti Irani as Sita in this modern adaptation, which was praised for its fresh presentation. Bringing his experience from mythological roles, Bharadwaj delivered a nuanced and well-received performance as Lord Ram, further strengthening his legacy in the genre.