Mumbai: Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor has caught attention with his recent remarks comparing Elon Musk's flying-car technology to the legendary Pushpak Viman described in the Hindu epic Ramayana.
The actor, who portrays Lord Rama in director Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming cinematic adaptation of Ramayana, made the comment during a promotional conversation with television presenter Suma Kanakala. The interview also featured co-stars Yash, Rakul Preet Singh and Ravi Dubey, along with director Nitesh Tiwari.
Speaking about the extraordinary creations described in ancient Indian literature, Ranbir referred to Elon Musk's recent developments in flying-car technology and said, "Elon Musk recently invented a flying car. I think India did it 5,000 years ago!"
His statement was a reference to the Pushpak Viman, the mythical aerial vehicle associated with the Ramayana, which is traditionally described as Ravana's flying chariot.
The conversation also highlighted the creative process behind bringing the legendary vehicle to the big screen. Director Nitesh Tiwari revealed that the filmmaking team explored approximately 40–50 different designs before finalising the visual appearance of the Pushpak Viman for the film.
According to Tiwari, considerable effort went into developing the vehicle's appearance and incorporating a sense of scientific imagination into its cinematic design.
Ranbir's comparison has attracted attention across social media, with his remarks generating discussions about mythology, ancient Indian literature and modern technological developments.
The upcoming film Ramayana features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The ambitious two-part cinematic adaptation is directed by Nitesh Tiwari, with its first instalment scheduled for a Diwali 2026 theatrical release.
While the Pushpak Viman remains a mythological concept, Ranbir's remark has brought renewed public attention to the fascinating descriptions of ancient inventions found in Indian epics.
