Yash`s take on him playing Ravana

Kannada actor Yash plays Ravana

Kannada superstar Yash plays the demon king Ravana in director Nitesh Tiwari`s epic two-part film Ramayana: Part 1, which released on November 5, 2026.

Multi-layered anti-hero

Yash approaches Ravana not as a one-dimensional villain, but as a complex, multi-layered figure driven by ambition, deep-seated ego & vengeance.

Yash on Ravana`s role

Yash notes that Ravana genuinely believed his pursuit of power was righteous, even as it caused destruction and imbalance.

Yash got creative freedom

Yash shared that playing a negative character like Ravana offered "no restriction, no boundaries" compared to playing a traditional hero.

Balancing emotion & scale

A challenge for Yash was preventing external theatricality & grand style from overwhelming the raw emotions of Ravana, requiring him to keep his mind grounded.

Co-production & collaboration

Besides acting, Yash joined the project as a co-producer, aiming to merge Eastern & Western cinematic techniques—working with global talents like Hans Zimmer.

Yash son`s innocent reaction

Yash shared how his son, Yatharv, struggled with the casting choice, asking, "You are Ravana?! How can you be Ravana? Aren`t you Rama?"