What If Ramanand Sagar Directed Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi in Ramayana?

An AI reimagining has envisioned Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi as Lord Rama and Sita in the iconic TV show Ramayana created by Ramanand Sagar.

Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming film Ramayana faces the challenge of meeting the high standards set by Sagar's legendary series, which aired from 1987 to 1988. This show is often hailed as the most influential Indian television program, establishing a template for future adaptations of the epic.

Following the release of the film's teaser, digital artists took to AI to recreate the cast in the vintage style of the original series, sparking significant interest online.

The teaser for Ramayana, released on a Thursday, drew mixed reactions. While many praised the grand visuals and Ranbir Kapoor's portrayal of Lord Rama, others criticized the film’s VFX work. Viewers expressed a desire for a more grounded simplicity reminiscent of Sagar's adaptation.

On social media, Siddhanta Abhishek (@myinternetiscrazy) shared AI-generated images depicting Ranbir and Sai Pallavi styled as characters from the original series. The caption read, “Ranbir and Sai Pallavi directed by Ramanand Sagar.” These images featured stunning recreations of scenes from the original show, including Ravie Dubey as Lakshman.

The original Ramayana starred Arun Govil as Lord Rama, Dipika Chikhlia as Sita, and Sunil Lahri as Lakshman. It broke viewership records and remains the most-watched Indian TV show to date, launching the lead actors into extraordinary fame.

The new Ramayana film is set to be a two-part epic with a staggering budget of ₹4000 crore, making it one of the most expensive Indian films ever made. It features an impressive cast including Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The first part is expected to hit theaters in October 2026, with the sequel arriving in 2027.