Apart from the usual gym sessions, Ranbir Kapoor also trained in a Chinese martial art form while preparing for his role as Lord Ram in Ramayana.Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram in Ramayana What does it take to play Lord Ram on the big screen? A chiselled physique?

Impressive combat skills? The right expressions and dialogue delivery with a sense of gravity and poise?

Well, all of that matters. But there's something else that went into Ranbir Kapoor's preparation for the character of Ram in Ramayana: The Rise of a Legend.Tai Chi.Yes, the ancient Chinese martial art form, which is slowly finding a foothold in India owing to its almost meditative movements, was part of the actor's training.

And the man behind these lessons was Indian Tai Chi master Sensei Sandeep Desai, who in an exclusive conversation told India Today how it all happened, what went into the training and why a martial art form that looks deceptively simple was considered suitable for a character.Interestingly, neither Ranbir Kapoor nor Sensai Sandeep were sure of how Tai Chi fits with Ramayana's training. Turns out, it was simply dovetails.

For the unversed, Tai Chi is Chinese martial art that involves slow, deliberate movements that focus on improving balance, posture and coordination. Earlier this year, it also became a viral fitness trend, especially amongst the elderly in India.It all began with an Instagram videoTerry Notary, a Hollywood action director known for his work in films such as Avatar and The Avengers, discovered Desai through one of his Tai Chi videos. "I was once travelling in a car when I got a call from someone from the production team saying they wanted to come meet me," he said.

He was told the recommendation had come from Notary. However, Desai admits he couldn't quite understand what Tai Chi had to do with Ramayana.A few weeks later, another call followed. "I was dealing with a debilitating back injury at the time.

But when he asked me to demonstrate Tai Chi, something just took over—I performed with full intensity. At the end, he simply said, 'This is exactly what I'm looking for,' and that's how I came on board," he shared.Now, when one thinks of preparing for a mythological action film, intense gym sessions, sword fighting and combat training are probably the first things that come to mind.

And Tai Chi is all things opposite, which is why Desai was not sure why someone would opt for this form.Why Tai Chi for Lord Ram?According to Desai, Notary's vision wasn't simply to make Ram look physically strong."The idea came from Terry's vision of movement. For a character like Ram, it wasn't just about strength—it was about grace, stillness, control, and effortlessness.

Tai Chi naturally cultivates these qualities. It brings a certain poise and internal balance that translates beautifully on screen."And before all the high-octane stunts come to the fore, the character also needs to command a sense of grace and calmness.How Ranbir Kapoor trained in Tai ChiDesai revealed that while Kapoor appreciated Tai Chi and had been exposed to it during his time in New York, he initially struggled to understand its relevance to the film."He couldn't immediately see its connection to Ramayana.

But once Terry explained the intention behind the movement, something clicked. He became very receptive," he said.

The character of Lord Ram commands a sense of poise along with strength According to Desai, the difference became noticeable over time. The actor approached the sessions with curiosity and sincerity, despite learning something that was relatively new to him. "What stood out most was his openness to learning something completely new.""You could see a shift in how he carried himself—more grounded, more fluid, and with a quiet confidence in his movement." Desai also appreciated the actor's dedication and patience.The training involved foundational Tai Chi practices, including the Horse Stance, which requires holding a controlled, squat-like position, and circular movements that work with rotational forces.

They might look easy when performed by an experienced practitioner, but maintaining the correct posture, balance and control can be quite challenging.Desai was initially brought in to train several members of the cast, including Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash and Ravie Dubey, along with the stunt performers. However, owing to certain changes in schedules, he majorly worked with Kapoor and a team of around 45 stunt performers.Of course, Kapoor's fitness regimen involved a lot more than just Tai Chi.

In an earlier conversation with Nikhil Kamath, the actor spoke about training with a Korean trainer named Nam, who introduced him to a variety of exercises beyond the usual machines and weights. The trainer has now shared glimpses of their training sessions as well.And perhaps that's what went into preparing for a character like Lord Ram, not just building strength, but also learning to carry it with grace.- Ends