Old Video of Ranbir Kapoor Declining Ganpati Prasad Resurfaces — But The Ramayana Timeline Doesn't Quite Add Up
THE COMMONS VOICE · ENTERTAINMENT · SEPTEMBER 17, 2026
A three-year-old video of Ranbir Kapoor is going viral again, reigniting debate over the actor's suitability to play Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming Ramayana — but a closer look at the timeline complicates the story being told about it.
At A Glance
| The video | Real, dates to ~November 2023 — not this year's celebrations |
| The quote | "I'm on a diet" — confirmed across multiple outlets |
| The timeline issue | Ramayana casting wasn't confirmed until ~April 2024 — months later |
| More likely context | Animal released Dec 1, 2023 — weeks after this video |
What's In The Video?
The clip, dating to around November 2023, shows Kapoor taking blessings at a Ganpati celebration. Afterward, he's seen distributing the prasad — modaks — to photographers rather than eating any himself, saying, "I'm on a diet."
Why Is It Resurfacing Now?
The video has recirculated during this year's Ganesh Chaturthi season, timed to coincide with growing buzz around Ramayana, in which Kapoor plays Lord Ram. Multiple outlets, including AajTak, explicitly note the clip is unrelated to this year's celebrations — it's old footage being recontextualized.
What's The Actual Timeline Problem?
The framing driving much of the current reaction — that Kapoor skipped religious prasad while training for a devotional role — doesn't match the public record. Kapoor's casting as Ram wasn't formally confirmed until around April 2024, several months after this video was filmed. In November 2023, he was in the final weeks before the release of Animal (December 1, 2023), a role that also demanded a lean, high-intensity physique. No source specifies which project's diet plan he was actually following at the time — but the timing makes an Animal-related diet considerably more likely than a Ramayana one.
How Are People Reacting?
Reaction is split. Critics have called the moment disrespectful and questioned his casting as Ram in light of it. Others have defended him, arguing a single sweet wouldn't meaningfully disrupt a fitness regimen, and noting that he's visibly attended this year's Ganpati celebrations with wife Alia Bhatt.
Latest Development
Neither Kapoor nor his team has publicly commented on the resurfaced clip. Ramayana Part 1 is scheduled for a Diwali 2026 release. This remains a low-stakes but actively circulating entertainment story; The Commons Voice will update if either side issues a statement.
Video referenced is from a 2023 public event and has circulated widely across entertainment media and social platforms. Original footage remains the property of its original filmers/publishers; credit provided where identifiable. This disclaimer does not constitute a legal fair-use defense — rights holders with concerns should contact us directly.