Actor Ranbir Kapoor has sparked an online conversation after comparing the Pushpaka Vimana described in the Ramayana with Elon Musk’s much-discussed Tesla Roadster. During a promotional interview for the upcoming film Ramayana, Ranbir said, “Elon Musk recently invented a flying car. I think India did it 5,000 years ago!”
The clip, which began circulating on social media on October 31, has received mixed reactions. Some viewers found the remark amusing, while others questioned the comparison. Ranbir’s statement was made in a light-hearted conversation about the extraordinary creations described in the epic.
But how do the two vehicles compare?
Pushpaka Vimana: A vehicle from mythology
The Pushpaka Vimana is described in the Ramayana as a divine flying chariot or aerial vehicle. According to the epic, it could travel through the sky and accommodate passengers. It is an important part of the traditional story, but there is no established historical or scientific evidence that it existed as a real flying machine.
Tesla Roadster: What actually happened?
Elon Musk presented a demonstration of the redesigned Tesla Roadster at a facility in Texas in October. The car climbed a curved ramp, travelled upside down, briefly lifted into the air with assistance from SpaceX-style thrusters, flipped and landed. Musk has claimed that it can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than a second and said production is planned for 2028.
However, the demonstration does not establish that the Roadster is a practical flying car available for everyday use.
Ranbir’s comment has brought mythology and modern technology into the same conversation. His film Ramayana is scheduled for release on November 5, adding to the public interest.
