Ranbir's Rama, Yash's Ravana, but Thailand can't stop swooning over Kunal Kapoor

“I never understood why Phra Lo got so much hype. Was Indra really that handsome and cool? Then I watched the Ramayana, and Indra is so handsome.” A Thai viewer's enthusiastic reaction to Kunal Kapoor's appearance in Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayana: Rise of a Legend' (2026) has captured the unexpected cross-border appeal of the Indian mythological epic.

While Ranbir Kapoor's portrayal of Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi's Sita and Yash's Ravana have dominated conversations around the film, it is Kapoor's relatively brief appearance as Devraj Indra that has earned him a surprising fan following in Thailand.

Thai viewers have been sharing screenshots, behind-the-scenes photographs and clips of the actor on X and Instagram, with some even composing poetic tributes to his appearance.

But the enthusiasm surrounding Kapoor's portrayal also brings attention to a much older cultural connection between India and Thailand, one that predates contemporary cinema by several centuries.

In Thailand, the Ramayana is known as the Ramakien, a literary and cultural tradition deeply embedded in the country's identity. Although rooted in the ancient Indian epic, the Thai adaptation has evolved with its own characters, interpretations and cultural influences.

It is widely regarded as Thailand's national epic, with its influence extending to literature, temple murals, classical performances and popular art.

The connection is particularly interesting in the context of Kapoor's character. Lord Indra, known in Thai tradition as Phra In, is also a familiar figure in the country's mythological imagination.

The Thailand Foundation, in its account of the Ramakien, notes that Indra appears repeatedly in the Thai epic, descending from heaven to assist Phra Ram during difficult moments.

This familiarity with the larger mythological world offers an interesting cultural backdrop to the attention Kunal is receiving.

However, Thai fans have been particularly vocal about his looks, regal appearance and screen presence rather than explicitly attributing their admiration to the film's cultural connections.

One fan described him as a heavenly figure who had descended to Earth, comparing his appearance to the radiance of the moon.

Another joked that his good looks were as powerful as Indra's thunderbolt. Several admirers have also invited the actor to visit Thailand, with some addressing him as the Indra of Thai people's dreams.

The actor, meanwhile, has acknowledged the affection coming his way. Responding to a Thai fan, Kapoor wrote that he loved Thailand and revealed that his sister's family lived there, describing the country as his 'second home'.

In the film, Kapoor appears in sequences involving the asura king Sumali, Ravana and Lord Vishnu.

His character is seen battling Sumali, later facing Ravana after the latter receives a boon from Lord Brahma, and approaching Vishnu to request his incarnation to defeat Ravana.

His entry on Airavata, the celestial elephant associated with Indra, is among the notable elements of his appearance.

The response has also gone beyond compliments, with some fans expressing interest in a standalone film centred on Indra and even suggesting crowdfunding such a project.

For a film rooted in one of India's most enduring epics, the response in Thailand offers an interesting reminder of how stories travel across borders and acquire new audiences.

And while Kapoor may not occupy the same screen time as the film's central characters, his portrayal of Indra has given Thai viewers an unexpected reason to join the conversation around 'Ramayana'.