Mukesh Khanna has criticised Ranbir Kapoor portrayal of Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, and the use of extensive VFX in the upcoming mythological epic Even before its theatrical release, Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana has become a talking point, especially Ranbir Kapoor's portrayal of Lord Rama. The mythological epic has attracted attention for its ambitious scope, cast and visual effects, but some viewers have questioned how the revered character has been portrayed in the promotional material. Now actor Mukesh Khanna has joined the conversation and expressed reservations about the depiction of Lord Rama. According to him, it seems that the character has been portrayed more as an action hero than Maryada Purushottam. He also questioned the film's VFX. Ramayana is headed for a theatrical release on Diwali this year. Speaking to Bollywood Now on YouTube, Mukesh Khanna shared his thoughts on the Ramayana trailer and what he didn't like about the way Lord Rama has been shown. The Shaktiman actor said that he respected Rama’s strength and divinity but felt that the action-heavy presentation did not match his own understanding of the character as depicted in the Ramayana. He singled out a sequence where Rama is seen climbing a tree and shooting arrows. "I don't remember the epic depicting Rama like this," Khanna said. He also referred to Rama's attitude toward the sea before the journey to Lanka, highlighting the character's humility and poise. Khanna felt that this aspect of Rama's personality should be kept at the centre while adapting the epic for a contemporary cinematic audience. He also drew comparisons with Hollywood action star Clint Eastwood and asked whether such a version was consistent with the traditional account of Rama. Another question Khanna raised was about the role of the Vanar Sena. He said that if Rama was proven to be a totally self-sufficient action hero, then the importance of the Vanar Sena and its participation in the battle would be undermined. "If you portray Shri Ram more as a man of action than as Maryada Purushottam, and turn him into Clint Eastwood, I might feel that Lord Ram did not fight like this. If he fought this way, then why would he have needed the help of the Vanar Sena?" The actor also addressed the massive VFX being used in Ramayana. However, sophisticated VFX can make the film attractive to international audiences, though Indian viewers may also see the movie through a different lens due to their religious and cultural association with Lord Rama, he opined. Khanna felt that Indian audiences would care less about the technical spectacle and more about whether the film respects their comprehension of the character. He said the film could be compared to movies like Star Wars for its visual scale but said its presentation in India should keep in mind Indian faith and beliefs. "They would compare it with Star Wars aur shayad kama legi. Lekin India mein India ki aastha ke hisaab se honi chahiye. Hum special effects nahi dekhenge (It may do well commercially. But in India, it should be made keeping Indian faith and beliefs in mind. We will not be looking at the special effects)." Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi as Rama and Sita in Ramayana Ramayana is a two-part mythological epic, directed by Nitesh Tiwari. Yash, Sunny Deol, Sai Pallavi, Ravie Dubey, Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Rakul Preet Singh, and Vivek Oberoi are part of the ensemble cast. Produced by Namit Malhotra and Yash, the film is made on a reported budget of around Rs 4,000 crore. The first part is set to release in theatres during Diwali 2026, and the second part during Diwali 2027. A cinema enthusiast with over 12 years of experience, I bring a deep love for storytelling in all its forms—whether it’s timeless black-and-white clas... View More