Actor Ranbir Kapoor drew a comparison between Elon Musk's flying car technology and the Pushpak Viman, the flying chariot from the Hindu epic Ramayana, during a promotional event for his upcoming film.
Kapoor, promoting his latest project, was asked about or showed footage of Musk's aerospace developments. The actor responded by referencing the Pushpak Viman, stating, "I think India did it 5,000 years back." The remarks suggest ancient Indian mythology may have envisioned aerial technology comparable to modern electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
The Pushpak Viman is described in the Ramayana as a celestial flying chariot capable of traveling anywhere at will. Musk's companies, particularly through Tesla and SpaceX initiatives, have explored electric aircraft and flying car concepts, though production models remain in developmental stages.
Kapoor's comments were made in a casual interview setting and reflect a cultural tendency to draw parallels between ancient texts and contemporary innovation. The actor was not making a scientific claim but rather observing the similarities between mythological descriptions and modern engineering ambitions.
The interview occurred during promotional activities for Kapoor's film, though the specific title was not disclosed in reports of the exchange. The comments have sparked discussion on social media about the intersection of mythology, popular culture, and technological progress.
