Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor has sparked debate after claiming that India had the concept of flying cars 5,000 years ago, long before modern technology pioneer Elon Musk introduced the idea.
According to Hindustan Times, the actor made the remark while promoting his upcoming film Ramayana, which is scheduled for release on November 5.
“Elon Musk recently created a flying car. I think India had already done it 5,000 years ago!” he said during an interview alongside the film’s cast and director.
Ranbir was referring to the Pushpaka Vimana, a flying palace or chariot featured in the Hindu mythological epic Ramayana.
In the ancient tale, the mythical vehicle is described as being capable of travelling through the air at extraordinary speeds while carrying multiple passengers.
His comments came during a discussion about the use of visual effects to bring mythological elements to life in the film, directed by Nitesh Tiwari.
However, the Pushpaka Vimana is a mythological concept, and there is no historical or scientific evidence confirming that flying cars existed in India 5,000 years ago.
Meanwhile, Tesla unveiled a prototype of its next-generation Roadster on October 15 in Texas, the United States.
A demonstration showed the electric vehicle moving backwards along a curved ramp before briefly becoming airborne and landing again.
However, the demonstration does not mean Tesla has developed a commercially available flying car that can be used freely on public roads.
Musk has targeted 2028 for the start of Roadster production.
Ranbir’s remarks attracted mixed reactions on social media, with some interpreting the comparison as a joke while others questioned its accuracy.
In Ramayana, Ranbir plays Rama, alongside Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana.
The two-part film also features Sunny Deol and Ravi Dubey, with its music composed by AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer.
