Karan Johar and critics praise Nitesh Tiwari's epic Ramayana as Ranbir Kapoor opens up on role challenges

Film Release And Early Praise

Director Nitesh Tiwari's massive mythological epic Ramayana released in theatres worldwide on November 5. Filmmaker Karan Johar shared a social media review calling the film a miracle and praising its scale and cultural roots. Karan also serves as a distributor for the project in the Hindi market. Early reviews from both critics and audiences point to strong numbers, with industry estimates expecting a net domestic opening of 80 crore rupees and a global start of 160 crore rupees.

Cast Performances

Karan praised Ranbir Kapoor for portraying Lord Rama with a meditative and grounded style, noting that the actor delivered his most challenging role with great perfection. Sai Pallavi received praise for her divine and sublime performance as Sita, which conveyed unconditional love. The film also stars Yash as Ravana, featuring a standout sequence involving his multiple inner voices, and Ravie Dubey as a loyal Laxman. The star-studded ensemble further includes Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor, Arun Govil, Kajal Aggarwal, Sheeba Chadha, and Lara Dutta.

Actor Reflections

Speaking to the BBC Asian Network alongside Sai Pallavi, lead actor Ranbir Kapoor discussed the heavy responsibilities of portraying a revered mythological figure. He admitted that unlike fictional roles in movies like Animal or Brahmastra, playing a divine figure leaves very little room for creative freedom. Ranbir confessed that self-doubt, fear of offending communities, and worries about his age initially filled him with insecurity before he embraced the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Sai Pallavi added that her own spiritual upbringing helped shape her approach to playing Sita.

Context

Ramayana is built on a reported budget of 4000 crore rupees, making it one of the most expensive and ambitious cinematic ventures in Indian film history. Adapting ancient texts for the modern screen requires balancing traditional reverence with relatable human emotion, a challenge noted by both the cast and industry observers.