Irish actor Cillian Murphy has revealed that part of his preparation for the titular role in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film “Oppenheimer” involved reading the Hindu text of Bhagavad Gita. In a recent interview, Murphy shared that he found the text beautiful and inspiring.
The Bhagavad Gita played a significant role in the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the character Murphy portrays in the film. Oppenheimer, a student of Sanskrit, famously quoted the Gita after the successful testing of the world’s first atomic bomb, stating, “Now I become death, the destroyer of worlds.”
Murphy acknowledged the consolation that the text provided Oppenheimer, stating that it seemed a source of solace throughout his life. However, when asked about what he learned from the Bhagavad Gita, the actor playfully responded, “Well, don’t grill me on it! I just found it very beautiful.”
“Oppenheimer” is 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 film is expected to be Christopher Nolan’s longest and is rated R for obvious reasons.
Fans can look forward to the release of “Oppenheimer” in cinemas on July 21.