Before Ranbir Kapoor was chosen to play Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming Ramayana, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was once set to play the same role. The film was made in the 1990s by Salman’s brother, Sohail Khan. However, the project was never completed due to personal issues behind the scenes.
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According to media reports, Sohail Khan had announced a Ramayana film soon after his directorial debut with Auzaar. Salman Khan was cast as Lord Ram and Sonali Bendre as Sita. The film even featured actress and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt in a key role. Nearly 40% of the film was reportedly shot, and Salman had even started promoting it dressed as Lord Ram, wearing traditional clothes and holding a bow and arrow.
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However, problems began when a personal relationship developed between Sohail Khan and Pooja Bhatt during the filming. Pooja had publicly spoken about marriage plans in 1995, suggesting their relationship was serious. But when their father, veteran screenwriter Salim Khan, found out, he reportedly advised Sohail to end the relationship.
Following this, Pooja Bhatt left the film. The departure caused a major setback, and eventually, the project was shelved. Despite Salman’s efforts to save the movie, it was never completed. His dream of playing Lord Ram remained unfulfilled.
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Now, nearly 30 years later, Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra are making a grand new version of Ramayana. Ranbir Kapoor will play Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi will be seen as Sita, and actor Yash will play Ravana. The film is set to be released in two parts, with the first part expected on Diwali 2026.
This new Ramayana is said to be one of India’s most expensive films ever, with a budget of ₹4000 crore. While fans are excited for Ranbir Kapoor’s version, the story of Salman Khan’s lost Ramayana project remains a fascinating part of Bollywood’s history.
Author: Purnima s
Purnima | Entertainment Blogger 4+ yrs writing fun blogs on movies, celebs & trends. Pop culture addict serving fresh, binge-worthy content!
