Dev Sharma: Lakshman Rejection to Rama Role

Rejection due to height

In interviews with Times of India and India Today on 18 September 2026, Dev Sharma said he was offered the Lakshman role in both Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana and Adipurush but was not cast because his height did not match the actor playing Lord Rama.

Comparison with Ranbir Kapoor

He explained, “I was two inches taller than the actor playing Lord Rama”, referring to Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal in Nitesh Tiwari’s film.

Comparison with Prabhas

For Adipurush he said, “I look as huge as Prabhas”, indicating his physique seemed out of sync with Prabhas’s Rama.

Feelings after the rejections

Dev Sharma said the repeated rejections left him disheartened and made him wonder whether his connection with the Ramayana epic was meant to be. He added that somewhere he felt he was two inches taller than the actor playing Lord Ram and in another he felt as huge as the actor playing Shri Ram, which led him to think his association with the story was not strong enough.

Father’s advice and the Rama role

Despite the setbacks, Dev Sharma’s father urged him to hear the script for Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha before deciding. Dev Sharma recalled that he initially declined the project when the makers first approached him, saying he did not want to play Lakshman or work on a Ramayana at all. His father told him to at least hear them out, noting that he had already said no twice without listening. After listening to the narrative, he agreed to take on the lead role of Lord Rama.

Destiny‑driven casting view and release

At the trailer launch of Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha on 18 September 2026, Dev Sharma stated he believes casting for divine characters is guided by destiny rather than personal choice. The film, directed by Abhishek Singh, stars Dev Sharma as Rama, Anjali Arora as Sita and Rajneesh Duggal in a supporting role, with a theatrical release scheduled for 25 September 2026. He noted that the project arrived at a time when multiple Ramayana adaptations were drawing attention, yet he felt this role was meant for him.