Actor Dev Sharma has revealed that he was rejected for the role of Lakshman in two major Ramayana adaptations before eventually being selected to portray Lord Ram in Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha.
Speaking at the film’s trailer launch, Dev said he had auditioned for Lakshman in Adipurush and Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana. His look tests had reportedly reached the final stages, but physical differences between him and the actors playing Lord Ram prevented the casting from moving forward.
In one project, Dev was said to be two inches taller than the actor selected to play Lord Ram. In the other, his physique was considered almost equal to that of the lead actor. The makers reportedly felt these differences would affect the visual relationship between Lord Ram and Lakshman.
Dev Sharma says repeated rejections left him heartbroken
Dev admitted that losing both opportunities left him disappointed and made him question whether he was destined to be associated with the Ramayana. When director Abhishek Singh later contacted him about another adaptation of the epic, the actor initially decided to reject the offer without hearing the complete proposal.
Dev recalled telling the director that he did not want to play Lakshman or participate in another Ramayana project. However, his father encouraged him to listen to the offer before making a decision. That conversation proved decisive because the filmmakers were approaching him to portray Lord Ram rather than Lakshman.
The actor’s journey from being rejected for a supporting role to leading Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha as Lord Ram has now attracted attention. The film is scheduled to arrive in theatres on September 25.
Ramayana adaptations feature major Bollywood stars
Om Raut’s Adipurush featured Prabhas as Lord Rama, Kriti Sanon as Sita, Saif Ali Khan as Ravana and Sunny Singh as Lakshman. Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita. Ravi Dubey plays Lakshman, while Kannada star Yash appears as Ravana. The first instalment is scheduled for a theatrical release around Diwali 2026.
Dev Sharma, meanwhile, will headline Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha. His experience shows how two painful casting setbacks unexpectedly led him to the central role in another cinematic retelling of the revered epic.
