Mumbai, July 25 — Actor and filmmaker Addinath Kothare, who has been cast as Bharat in Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming epic Ramayana, recently shared personal reflections on working alongside Ranbir Kapoor and the significance of being part of one of India’s most ambitious cinematic ventures.
In a candid interview, Kothare revealed that Ranbir Kapoor was his senior during their school days, although the two never interacted at the time. “He was my senior in school, but I didn’t get to meet him then. Now it’s such a coincidence that I got to work with him,” Kothare said, adding that he mentioned this to Kapoor during their shoot.
Kothare expressed deep admiration for Kapoor’s professionalism, describing him as “secure, sincere, and focused.” Their collaboration marks Kothare’s first on-screen interaction with the Bollywood star, who plays Lord Ram in the film.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is a two-part mythological drama slated for release in Diwali 2026 and 2027. The film features an ensemble cast including Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Ravi Dubey, Sunny Deol, Lara Dutta, and Arun Govil. The score is being composed by A.R. Rahman in collaboration with Hollywood legend Hans Zimmer.
Kothare praised Tiwari’s leadership, calling him “patient and in control,” and credited casting director Mukesh Chhabra and producer Namit Malhotra for entrusting him with the role of Bharat. “It’s the biggest film made on Indian soil,” he said, emphasizing the scale and meticulous planning behind the production.
A National Award-winning actor and director, Kothare is known for his work in Marathi cinema, including Paani (2024). He is currently also working with Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Nitesh Tiwari’s wife, on an upcoming project starring Jyotika and Sonakshi Sinha.
The actor concluded by calling the opportunity “a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” not just professionally but personally, as he continues to evolve both as an artist and a human being.
