India Had Flying Cars 5,000 Years Before Elon Musk: Ranbir

Ranbir Kapoor has once again sparked online conversation after drawing a comparison between Elon Musk’s futuristic flying car and the Pushpaka Vimana described in the Hindu epic Ramayana. During a promotional interaction for his upcoming film Ramayana, the actor made a remark stating that India had already achieved something similar 5,000 years ago.

The comment came during an interview featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Ravi Dubey, Rakul Preet Singh and director Nitesh Tiwari. The team was discussing the extraordinary weapons, vehicles and visual elements associated with the ancient epic when the conversation turned towards modern technological innovations.

Referring to Elon Musk’s latest announcement, Ranbir said, “Elon Musk recently invented a flying car. I think India did it 5,000 years ago!” He was referring to the Pushpaka Vimana, the mythical flying chariot associated with Ravana in the Ramayana

The remark quickly caught the attention of social media users, with clips from the interview circulating widely. While some appreciated the actor’s enthusiasm for Indian mythology, others questioned the comparison, pointing out the difference between mythological descriptions and modern technological achievements. Several users also turned the statement into memes, joking about India having forgotten to patent its ancient flying technology.

Pushpaka Vimana in the Ramayana is described as a magnificent flying palace or celestial chariot. According to Hindu mythology, it was originally created by Vishwakarma, the divine architect, for Lord Brahma, who later gifted it to Kubera, the god of wealth. Ravana defeated Kubera and took possession of the vehicle.

Ranbir’s reference was to Tesla’s next-generation Roadster, which was showcased by Elon Musk at an event in Texas on October 15. The demonstration featured rocket-style thrusters that allowed the vehicle to perform unusual aerial manoeuvres, briefly lifting it off the ground.

With the film generating considerable buzz ahead of its release, Ranbir’s comparison has added another talking point to its promotional campaign, bringing ancient mythology and futuristic technology into the same conversation.