Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna has raised concerns over the portrayal of Lord Rama in director Nitesh Tiwari’s highly anticipated two-part epic Ramayana.
Known for iconic roles in Shaktimaan and Mahabharat, Khanna criticised the film’s action-heavy treatment and visual effects.
According to reports, Khanna specifically pointed to a sequence featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama climbing a tree and shooting arrows, noting that such a depiction does not match traditional versions of the epic.
Comparing the action-oriented approach to mainstream action stars, Khanna remarked that Lord Rama was Maryada Purushottam and shouldn’t be turned into a standard action hero like Clint Eastwood or Bollywood stars.
Khanna also shared reservations regarding the extensive use of visual effects. While acknowledging that international viewers might see the project as a fantasy spectacle, he emphasised that Indian audiences view the character through a lens of deep religious and cultural faith, stating, “In India, if you are showing Ram, show it with devotion.”
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana, alongside an ensemble cast including Sunny Deol and Arun Govil. The first instalment of the epic is scheduled for release in Diwali 2026, with the second part following in Diwali 2027.
