Nitesh Tiwari’s most ambitious adaption Ramayana has given chit-chat possibility with its first glimpse released sometime in July.
Ranbir Kapoor’s act as Lord Ram has left fans curious and divided. But Mukesh Khanna, the most popular actor in his role as Bhishma Pitamah in BR Chopra Mahabharat, is skeptical that Kapoor can act the role of the great Maryada Purushottam.
Skeptical Of Ranbir’s performance
While speaking with Galatta India, Khanna revealed that he had prepared an entire reaction video to the teaser, in which Ranbir’s Lord Ram was climbing a tree and shooting arrows.
ALSO READ: David and Victoria Beckham Share Playful Butt Grab During Family Dinner in Italy
But Khanna’s crew advised him against publishing the reaction since they thought it would look too AI-generated. After discovering that the scene did, in fact, appear in the teaser, Khanna felt obliged to point out Kapoor’s flaws, especially because Kapoor himself had once told that he had eaten beef. Khanna did not want to go that way personally, though.
Ram Was Not Warrier
Khanna’s key concern, however, rested with Lord Ram’s creative characterization. “Therein lies the trouble; if you tinker with the picture,” he advised.
“Ram was Maryada Purushottam, the ideal man and in no way warrior! Climbing trees and firing arrows would be out of context. These acts belonged to Krishna or Arjun, but Rama depended on virtue and righteousness. If he wanted to fight Ravana by himself, he wouldn’t have sought out the help of the vanara army.”
ALSO READ: War 2 Advance Sales Cross ₹2 Crore in a Day Even with Few Telugu Screenings
Ranbir’s Acting Versus His Image
While acknowledging Ranbir’s talent, Khanna felt there would be an issue with audience acceptance given the shade of Kapoor’s recent film.
“He is capable but if the film calls him `Yodha Rama,’ people would never accept it,” he warned with a note that wild rewriting of Ramayana could not be taken lightly.
Star-Studded Cast And High Expectations
Directing from producer Namit Malhotra, Tiwari’s Ramayana has a star-studded cast that includes Sai Pallavi as Sita, Ravie Subey as Lakshman, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Yash as Ravana. It is an epic, planned as a two-part narrative for which the release is slated for Diwali 2026 and Diwali 2027.
The teaser has drawn widespread attention for its special effects, fetching compliments that pit it against and at times surpass Om Raut’s Adipurush. But in these comments of Khanna, it was clearly stated that the fate of the film will depend on how closely it could tread the fine line between pure spectacle and spiritual truth.
ALSO READ: Param Sundari Trailer: Janhvi Kapoor Steals the Show with Fiery Take on ‘North Indians’
