Actor Yash recently opened up about an interesting conversation with his seven-year-old son, Yatharv, after learning that his father would portray Ravana in Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming epic film, Ramayana: Part 1. Since the young boy had grown up listening to the story of the Ramayana from his grandparents, he found it difficult to understand why his father was playing the antagonist instead of Lord Rama.

During a conversation with television presenter Suma Kanakala, the Kannada superstar recalled how Yatharv questioned his casting and wanted to know whom he should support in the film. Yash also explained how he helped his son understand the difference between an actor and the character he portrays.

Yatharv Could Not Understand Why His Father Was Playing Ravana

Yash revealed that his children were familiar with the Ramayana because their grandparents had told them the epic's story while growing up. Therefore, when Yatharv learned that his father would play Ravana, he was surprised and questioned the decision. Recalling his son's reaction, Yash shared, “For a son, his father is his hero. Since he knows the story [of the Ramayana], he asked me, ‘You are Ravana? How can you be Ravana? Aren’t you Rama?’”

The actor explained that he told Yatharv, “Yes, I am Rama in real life, but in the movie, I am playing Ravana”. However, the explanation did not immediately convince the young boy. He responded that his father would then be the bad guy. Yash said he tried to explain cinema and acting to his son with the help of drawings, helping him understand that playing a character does not mean becoming that person in real life.

Yash Explains Whom His Son Should Support in the Film

The conversation became more interesting when Yatharv asked his father whom he should root for while watching the film. Yash admitted that it was a complicated question, particularly because he understood that some viewers might also have doubts about seeing him portray Ravana. He pointed out that scenes such as Sita Apaharan could make audiences dislike his character, despite his popularity as an actor. Yash then explained the difference between appreciating a performance and following the values represented by the epic.

He told his son that Lord Rama is the person everyone should follow when listening to the story. Ravana might appear glamorous, fancy or powerful, but the essence of Lord Rama's character is what people should ultimately understand. At the same time, Yash told Yatharv that he could root for his father while watching the movie, adding that he should not take the character personally.

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Yatharv’s Next Question Left Yash Surprised

Yatharv was not finished with his questions. He went on to ask his father whether he would die or lose in the film. Yash had to reassure him once again that he was only playing a character on screen. The actor admitted that he had not anticipated this conversation while working on the film.

Although he had considered how his fans might react to his decision to portray Ravana, he had not thought about how his own son would process it. Yash described the exchange as interesting but difficult, as explaining the distinction between real life and an on-screen character to a young child was not straightforward. He also felt that Yatharv might understand the concept better as he grows older.

About Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and backed by producer Namit Malhotra, Ramayana: Part 1 features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. The mythological epic is planned as the first instalment of a two-part cinematic adaptation of the Ramayana. Its music brings together Oscar-winning composers Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman, adding to the scale of the ambitious production.

The film is scheduled to arrive in theatres on November 5, 2026, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. Yash's portrayal of Ravana is among the major talking points surrounding the project, with the actor aiming to present a layered interpretation of the powerful mythological character.

Final Take

Yash's conversation with Yatharv offers a personal glimpse into the challenges of portraying an iconic antagonist, especially when children already know the story and see their parents as heroes. While the actor is preparing audiences to see his interpretation of Ravana, his son's questions highlight the difference between the person an actor is in real life and the character brought to the screen.

Also read: Ramayana Review: Ranbir Kapoor and Yash Lead a Grand Epic