When the Ramayana trailer hit screens in September, Mukesh Khanna didn’t hold back—he slammed the film’s action as a clumsy mash‑up of Salman Khan, Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan.
Khanna warned that Rama, traditionally a master archer who never climbed trees to shoot arrows, has been turned into a superhero‑type hero. He said, “I’ve read the Ramayana and seen Ramleela; this is the first time I’ve seen Rama shoot arrows from a tree—like a blockbuster hero.”
Behind the scenes, director Nitesh Tiwari is chasing a global spectacle, backed by a ₹4,000 crore budget—roughly $500 million for two parts. Producer Namit Malhotra told Prakhar Gupta, “We’re making the largest film in the world for the greatest epic, and we’re doing it more efficiently than some Hollywood blockbusters.”
The epic will split into two parts, with the first slated for a worldwide release in October 2026 just before Diwali; the second will hit screens during Diwali 2027. Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Ravi Dubey and Yash are set to play pivotal roles.
Fans of the Ramleela and earlier adaptations are watching closely, wondering whether the high‑budget effects will honor the myth or simply turn it into a spectacle. The conversation is heating up, and the debate is far from over.