Ranbir Kapoor draws parallel between ancient Pushpak Viman and modern flying vehicles

Actor Ranbir Kapoor has drawn an intriguing comparison between the Pushpak Viman—the legendary flying chariot described in Hindu mythology's Ramayana—and contemporary efforts to develop flying vehicles, including those being pursued by tech entrepreneurs like Elon Musk.

In comments highlighting India's ancient technological imagination, Kapoor suggested that the concept of aerial transportation was envisioned in Indian texts roughly 5,000 years ago, centuries before modern aviation engineering emerged as a scientific discipline.

The Pushpak Viman, described in ancient Sanskrit literature as a celestial aircraft capable of traversing vast distances, has long captured the imagination of scholars and enthusiasts interested in how ancient civilisations conceptualised advanced transportation. The comparison underscores how mythological narratives often contained elements of technological aspiration that only became realizable in the modern era.

Kapoor's remarks reflect a broader cultural discourse in India examining how ancient texts and philosophies anticipated concepts now being pursued through contemporary innovation and research. The actor's observation adds to ongoing conversations about India's intellectual heritage and its contributions to human knowledge systems across millennia.