Cillian Murphy read Bhagavad Gita to prepare for Oppenheimer, here’s what he loved the most

Oppenheimer had previously quoted the Bhagavad Gita

A still from Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer'

Cillian Murphy reveals that he read the Bhagavad Gita to prepare for the role of J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer. The Bhagavad Gita is an ancient Hindu scripture. Oppenheimer is a theoretical physicist who is often considered one of the fathers of the atomic bomb.

He famously quoted a verse from the Gita after the successful testing of the world’s first atomic bomb in 1945. As he witnessed the test’s outcome, Oppenheimer, who had a background in Sanskrit, reflected, “Now I have become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” Murphy's exploration of the Bhagavad Gita was a part of his process to portray Oppenheimer in the film.

Sucharita Tyagi pointed out the reference to Cillian Murphy and later questioned the actor is he went back and did take some influence from the sacred texts to portray Oppenheimer on screen. In response, the actor revealed that he himself found inspiration in the Bhagavad Gita.

He shared that he read the text as part of his preparation for the role and found it to be a truly beautiful and inspiring piece of literature. Murphy suggested that Oppenheimer also found solace in the Bhagavad Gita throughout his life, as it provided him with consolation.

Cillian however could not share more personal takeaways from the text. He humorously responded by saying, “Well, don't quiz me on it!” The actor then expressed that he simply found the Bhagavad Gita to be a profoundly beautiful work.

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and the late Martin J. Sherwin, the historical drama features an ensemble cast including Robert Downey Jr. Emily Blunt, Matt Damon and Florence Pugh.

Scheduled for release on July 21, Oppenheimer is one of the most-awaited release. It will clash with Greta Gerwig's Barbie at the Box Office. The movie is helmed by Christopher Nolan and much like his previous works, the initial response for Oppenheimer makes the film a promising wait.

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