Actor Ranbir Kapoor compared Elon Musk’s newly unveiled flying car to the mythical Pushpaka Vimana from the Ramayana during a promotional event ahead of the film’s November 5 release, asserting that India had imagined such advanced aerial transport five millennia ago while discussing the epic’s modern visual effects.
Ranbir Kapoor Compares Pushpaka Vimana to Tesla Roadster
While promoting the upcoming theatrical release of Ramayana, actor Ranbir Kapoor drew a playful parallel between modern electric vehicle engineering and ancient Hindu mythology. Speaking on a chat show alongside host Suma, director Nitesh Tiwari, and co-stars Yash, Ravi Dubey, and Rakul Preet Singh, the actor remarked on recent technological milestones in personal flight.
The remark followed Tesla’s October 15 showcase of its next-generation Tesla Roadster in Waco, Texas, where the sports car demonstrated rocket-inspired air thrusters developed alongside SpaceX. Tesla has targeted 2028 for regular production of the Roadster, which features an invite-only “Rocket” variant equipped with a complete flight system. The original Roadster first entered production back in 2008, and the updated electric sports car was showcased nearly a decade after Musk first announced the model.
Designing the Mythical Chariot for Nitesh Tiwari’s Adaptation
Bringing the Pushpaka Vimana to the silver screen required nearly two years of iterative design work.
The evolving shape of the aircraft forced the crew to rework action sequences.
Mythological Origins of the Aerial Palace
In Hindu scripture, the Pushpaka Vimana holds a storied lineage. The celestial architect Vishwakarma originally crafted the vehicle for Lord Brahma. Brahma later presented the flying palace to Kubera, the god of wealth and Ravana’s half-brother, before Ravana seized control of the chariot following a military defeat.
Box Office Momentum and Global Advance Bookings Ahead of November 5 Release
The two-part adaptation features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana, alongside Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. The first part boasts a musical score composed by A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer, with action choreography directed by Terry Notary and Guy Norris. The project is envisioned as a big-screen retelling of one of India’s most revered epics, following Lord Ram’s journey, his exile, the abduction of Sita by Ravana, and the ensuing battle between good and evil.
Commercial interest ahead of the November 5 opening across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam formats remains strong. Domestic advance bookings have crossed 4.98 lakh total tickets, translating to 4.09 lakh tickets sold once blocked seats are excluded across 12,631 scheduled shows, with a current occupancy rate standing at 18% or 14% excluding blocked seats. Delhi-NCR leads the regional advance bookings.
| Region / Language | Advance Earnings (Including Blocked Seats) | Key Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi-NCR | ₹3.45 crore | 47,486 tickets across 1,425 shows |
| Bengaluru | ₹3.27 crore | 55,893 tickets sold (31% occupancy) |
| Mumbai | ₹2.72 crore | 40,407 tickets across 1,149 shows |
| Hindi Version | ₹18.20 crore | 11,600 scheduled shows |
| Kannada Version | ₹2.67 crore | 549 scheduled shows |
International audiences are also driving early figures. International advance sales have reached around $3.86 million, or approximately ₹32.5 crore, with the United States and Canada leading the overseas advance bookings by generating around $2.86 million, which accounts for approximately 74% of the total overseas advance bookings. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom and Ireland have generated $416,500, Australia and New Zealand have contributed $346,900, the Telugu version has earned ₹1.06 crore accounting for 5% of total earnings, and the Tamil version has contributed ₹17.32 lakh as advance bookings continue ahead of the theatrical release.