An actor’s screen identity can sometimes be difficult for family members to separate from reality. Yash recently faced a similar situation at home while getting into the shoes of Ravana for Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra’s upcoming film, Ramayana: Rise of a Legend. The biggest challenge came from his young son, Yatharv, who couldn’t understand why his father was playing the antagonist.
During the film’s international promotions, the Kannada star shared this amusing yet emotional experience in a conversation with television presenter Suma Kanakala on her YouTube channel.
Yatharv Questioned His Father’s Casting
Yash revealed that his children were familiar with the Ramayana through stories narrated by their grandparents. So, learning about his father’s role as Ravana did not go down well with Yatharv.
Recalling their conversation, the actor said, “For a son, his father is his hero. Since he knows the story [of the Ramayana], he asked me, ‘You are Ravana?! How can you be Ravana? Aren’t you Rama?’ So, I said, ‘Yes, I am Rama in real life, but in the movie, I am playing Ravana.’ But he was like, ‘Then you are the bad guy.’ So, I explained to him about cinema and acting, showing him drawings and all of that.”
Yash Had A Special Message For His Fans Too
His son’s confusion did not end there. Yatharv also wanted to know which character he should support when watching the film. Yash felt this was a question that his fans might also have, considering his popularity and the nature of Ravana’s character.
Addressing the dilemma, he explained, “My fans might also have the same doubt, wondering, ‘Why is Yash doing this role?’ Especially since, in scenes like Sita Apaharan, I should not be liked. Then I told my kid in the most distinct way, ‘When we listen to the story, it is Rama whom everybody has to follow. Ravana might look glamorous, fancy, or powerful. But ultimately, if you have to win, you have to understand the essence of Lord Rama. However, in the movie, you can root for me. But don’t take it personally.'”
Yatharv Was Worried About His Father’s Fate
There was another question that caught Yash off guard. Yatharv wanted to know whether his father would die or lose in the movie. The actor had to explain that the outcome of a character’s story has nothing to do with the person playing it.
Yash admitted that he had expected such questions from his fans, but his son’s reaction was something he had not anticipated. Making a young child understand the difference between an actor and his on-screen character was certainly not easy.
The superstar hopes Yatharv will eventually understand that Ravana is only a role he plays on screen and does not define the person he is away from the cameras.
