Yash on playing Ravana, co-producing Ramayana: 'Most fascinating character...'

It's been a long wait for fans of Kannada superstar Yash to see him back in action on the big screen. His last film, KGF: Chapter 2, released in 2022. Yash has maintained a low profile since then, but in a recent interview, he revealed that he’s been working behind the scenes on some of India’s biggest upcoming productions.

While Yash is currently busy shooting for Toxic, he is also preparing to play the mighty Ravana in Ramayana, written and directed by Nitesh Tiwari. Until now, Yash's role in the project was merely speculation, but he has confirmed his involvement. He also revealed that he is co-producing this big-screen adaptation of the Indian epic, which stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi as Sita.

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Yash's decision to take on the role of an antagonist may seem like a bold choice, but for him, it’s an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. “It’s a very fascinating character. I wouldn’t have done it for any other reason. In Ramayana, if you had asked me, ‘would you play any other character?’ Probably not. For me, Ravana is the most exciting character to play as an actor. I really like the shades and the nuances of this character,” Yash told Hollywood Reporter India. “There’s vast scope to present it in a very different way. As an actor, I’m very excited. Hopefully, it’s going to be a unique approach.”

Yash shared that Ramayana came about while he was working on the pre-production of Toxic. Namit Malhotra of VFX company DNEG and Prime Focus approached him with the idea of making the mythological epic on an unprecedented scale. Yash was drawn in by the passion and dedication of the team and immediately became a part of the project. He also revealed that Ranbir Kapoor was already attached to the film before he came on board.

For Yash, playing the villain isn’t about being overshadowed by the hero. He emphasized that as long as the character is treated with respect and value, it doesn’t matter whether he’s the hero or the antagonist. “If the character is treated like a character... if this doesn’t happen today, then the film won’t happen. To make a film with that kind of budget, you need those kinds of actors to come together and work for the project. It has to be beyond yourself and your stardom. We have to place the project and the vision first,” he added.