With Ramayana making headlines for its massive box-office run and visual scale, actor Chetan Hansraj has a story of his own from the sets. The 54-year-old actor plays Raja Mali in Nitesh Tiwari's epic and spent nearly four hours every day getting into character.
From the elaborate make-up process to sharing screen space with Yash and watching the film's VFX take shape, Chetan opened up about being part of the ambitious project.In an exclusive conversation with India Today, the actor spoke about preparing for the role, working with director Nitesh Tiwari, his experience with the film’s technology, his camaraderie with Yash, why he thinks Ranbir Kapoor was a perfect cast as Ram, and the performances that stayed with him.On being cast as Raja Mali and the responsibility of opening RamayanaRecalling his first reaction when he was confirmed for the role, Chetan said, "Honestly, when I got confirmed for it, I just had a feeling that I was onto something really big. Along with that came a lot of responsibility.
Since this is a concept that is so close to everyone’s heart, you have to give any role in it a thousand per cent."The actor knew from the start that his character would be the audience's first introduction to the film's world. "They told me the film would open with my sequence, so I knew I had to prepare well. I read up on the character and got into shape for the role.
When they showed me the look, I thought, ‘Wow, this is going to be epic.’ Looking like Raja Mali was one thing, but I wanted to make sure my performance did justice to the character," he said. He added, "The directors and everyone involved kept telling me that this had to be epic.
I carried that thought throughout my 15 days of shooting. I gave it a million per cent at every moment because this was the opening of the film.
It sets the tone for everything that follows."Everything was internal: On working with Nitesh TiwariFor Chetan, working with director Nitesh Tiwari was an experience marked by creative freedom and an understanding of the character’s emotional requirements. "When I worked with him, it was very relaxed. He was chilled out and understanding of my character and how I was supposed to play him.
Everything was internal. If you don’t feel it, it isn’t going to come out.
I had to train myself to feel that I was Raja Mali and understand everything that was going forward. Even when you’re doing a fight sequence or riding a rhinoceros, everything matters.
How you feel in that moment matters," the Ramayana actor said.The making of Raja Mali, VFX and prostheticsOne of the biggest aspects of Chetan’s preparation was his physical transformation. The actor spent approximately four hours every day getting into the elaborate prosthetics required for the character."For a lot of people, it might be, ‘Oh my God, I’m putting on makeup.’ For me, it was about coming into character.
I was transforming from Chetan into Rajamali. That entire process of getting into the character and then getting out of Rajamali and becoming Chetan again was an experience in itself," he said.Post the shoot wrapped, Chetan recalled how the team celebrated his contribution with a gesture that stayed with him. "When I finished shooting, they cut 10 cakes for me.
There were so many cakes lined up, and I realised that they really valued what I had done. This was a very pivotal point in the story because it starts the entire epic.
That was really heartwarming," the actor recalled.I was blown away: Witnessing Ramayana's VFX and technologyThe Ramayana team used Unreal Engine backgrounds and pre-rendered environments, allowing the actors to visualise parts of the setting instead of performing entirely against a blue screen.Chetan also spoke about how the VFX team helped the cast picture the world they were shooting in. They could see pre-rendered versions of the backgrounds after each take, which gave them a better sense of how their scenes would look in the finished film. “It helped us feel like we were actually part of that world.
We weren't simply standing in front of a blue screen. The whole process was quite immersive,” he said.The action sequences came with their own share of technology.
Chetan revealed that the rhinoceros he rode was fitted with a motion-control mechanism that recreated the animal's movements, from charging to coming to a sudden halt. He compared it to the mechanical bulls found at theme parks, explaining that the controlled movements made the experience feel remarkably real.The scale of the visual effects work also became apparent when he watched the final film. "My sequence has had VFX work going on for two years.
There were 3,000 to 4,000 people working on just that sequence. They valued every single detail, and it shows," he said.Chetan also revealed that his contribution to the film extended beyond Raja Mali.
He performed motion capture for several other characters, including Khara and Dushan."I also played multiple characters. I did motion capture for about six more characters.
I played Khara and Dushan in the final fight sequence where the two brothers follow Ram. The scene where Shri Ram shoots the arrow into the tornado and everything lights up was exceptional.
Those are the scenes that really stay in your head," the actor explained.Working with Yash and his thoughts on the castingChetan also got an opportunity to work with Yash, who plays Ravana, during the Khara-Dushan sequence. While he performed the facial and performance capture for certain sequences involving Ranbir Kapoor’s Ram, the stunts were handled by stunt performers."I didn’t get a chance to work directly with Ranbir for those sequences because stunt artists were doing the action.
I did the facial and performance capture. But I worked with Yash for the Khara-Dushan sequence, and he was such a cool guy," Chetan replied.He also recalled watching Yash shoot Ravana’s ten-head sequence in person. "I happened to be shooting next door one day.
After finishing my shoot, I went to the set and saw that they were shooting Ravana’s ten-head sequence. Watching him perform that was spectacular," he showered praise on Yash.Chetan further shared a light-hearted interaction with Yash while the latter was filming another scene. "I was shooting nearby when I finished and went to the set.
They were shooting a scene where Ram kicks open the door. Yash saw me and said, ‘Dadaji, I’m taking revenge for you!’ It was very cool of him.
He’s a very cool guy," Hansraj smiled.On the casting debate surrounding the film, Chetan was firmly appreciative of the ensemble, particularly Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Ram."I think the casting is perfect. Honestly, Ranbir is Ram.
I can’t imagine anybody else playing him with that sincerity and poise. Ram is in human form, but he is also Vishnu.
It is an effortless performance. Even when he is killing someone, he doesn’t have to exaggerate his expressions because he possesses that divine power.
His performance is outstanding, especially in the emotional scenes. We already know what a superb actor he is, but imagine the responsibility he had to perform this role to perfection," the actor asserted.He also praised Yash as Ravana, along with Ravi and Sai Pallavi. "I don’t think anybody could have played Ravana as well as Yash has.
Ravi was phenomenal, and Sai Pallavi acted so well. The casting was done very aptly.
They have taken so much time to cast these people," he added.When asked if audiences would see him return in Ramayana Part 2 as any other character, Chetan remained hopeful, adding, "I hope so. But I definitely think you will."Ramayana: Part 2 is scheduled for Diwali 2028 release.- Ends