Varun Grover Slams Original Ramayan Cast Over Comments On Nitesh Tiwari's New Film

Critic's Callout

Writer and lyricist Varun Grover has criticized actors from Ramanand Sagar's classic 1987 television series Ramayan for their public remarks about Nitesh Tiwari's new film, Ramayana: Part 1. Grover took to his X handle to call out the original cast members, writing that they comment on the new movie with an entitlement as if they are actual divine avatars.

Cast Reactions

Sunil Lahri and Dipika Chikhlia, who played Lakshman and Sita in the classic show, previously voiced reservations about the new adaptation. Ahead of the film's release, Chikhlia questioned Sai Pallavi's casting as Sita and noted that curly hair for the character is not mentioned in the epic text. However, after the film hit theatres worldwide on November 5, 2026, Chikhlia praised its box office success, noting to paparazzi that it crossed 900 to 1000 crore rupees in just four to five days due to its big stars and visual effects. Meanwhile, Lahri posted a mixed video review, stating that certain sequences lacked devotional sentiment and divine essence. He specifically criticized how characters like Shurpanakha and Sita address Lord Ram, alongside noting the absence of the Ahalya episode and concerns regarding the Parashurama sequence.

Context

Classic television adaptations of Indian epics often hold deep emotional value for audiences who grew up watching them, which frequently leads to intense public comparisons when new big-budget cinematic versions are released. Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan gained renewed popularity among younger viewers when it aired on Doordarshan during the pandemic lock-downs.