Before Ranbir Kapoor stepped into the role of Lord Ram for Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming Ramayana, Salman Khan was reportedly set to headline his own adaptation of the Hindu epic. The ambitious project was being planned by his brother Sohail Khan in the 1990s and had reportedly even gone on floors.
However, the film was eventually shelved, with reports claiming that Sohail Khan’s relationship with Pooja Bhatt became one of the reasons behind its downfall. Here’s what happened with Salman Khan’s Ramayana.
Salman Khan In Sohail Khan’s Ramayana
In the early 1990s, Sohail Khan reportedly planned a grand cinematic adaptation of the Ramayana, with Salman Khan set to portray Lord Ram. Actress Sonali Bendre was reportedly chosen to play Sita in the film.
The project was envisioned as a massive mythological spectacle and preparations for the film had reportedly progressed significantly. According to several reports, parts of the movie were also shot before production came to a halt.
However, things changed after Sohail Khan and actress Pooja Bhatt reportedly developed a romantic relationship during the making of the film. A Mid-Day report claimed that Pooja had even spoken about the possibility of marriage with Sohail around 1995.
How Did Sohail Khan’s Relationship With Pooja Bhatt Affect Ramayana?
Reports suggest that Sohail Khan’s relationship with Pooja Bhatt did not receive approval from his family. His father, veteran writer Salim Khan, was reportedly not in favour of the relationship and advised Sohail to end it.
Following the reported family opposition, Pooja Bhatt exited the project, creating uncertainty around the film. Although attempts were reportedly made to continue with Ramayana, the ambitious adaptation eventually got shelved.
According to reports, nearly 40% of the film had already been shot before it was abandoned.
Why Was Salman Khan’s Ramayana Never Released?
While the exact reasons behind the shelving of Sohail Khan’s Ramayana have never been officially confirmed, reports over the years have linked the film’s fate to the changes happening behind the scenes, including Sohail Khan and Pooja Bhatt’s reported relationship.
The project remains one of Bollywood’s most talked-about unfinished films, especially because it would have featured Salman Khan as Lord Ram at a time when mythological films were rarely mounted on such a large scale.
Ramayana Returns With Ranbir Kapoor
Decades later, the epic story is once again making headlines with Ranbir Kapoor taking on the role of Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana.
The upcoming two-part film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The first part is scheduled to release on November 6, 2026, while the second instalment will arrive during Diwali 2027.
Unlike Sohail Khan’s unfinished adaptation, Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana is being mounted as a global-scale production with a reported focus on visual spectacle and advanced filmmaking technology.
