Karan Johar has weighed in on Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1 — and he did not hold back. The filmmaker took to social media to praise Tiwari’s mythological adaptation, calling the cinematic translation of the epic "no short of a miracle." Johar reserved his sharpest praise for Ranbir Kapoor’s lead turn as Lord Rama, arguing that the actor’s restrained expressions carried the character's spiritual weight without noisy theatrical artifice.
Taking an understated approach to a revered mythological figure is a gamble. Kapoor made it stick. Johar highlighted how Kapoor conveyed quiet spiritual gravity through sheer gaze rather than grandstanding. "Ranbir... to be able to make a country believe in you as a divine force of goodness and humanity without any bells and whistles... takes immeasurable talent," Johar wrote, calling it the actor's most demanding screen assignment yet. "Your eyes do all the heavy lifting... its your most challenging role ever and you have mega succeeded with divine perfection."
Yet an epic requires an equally formidable counterweight. Johar singled out Yash for injecting raw magnetism into Ravana. Calling the Kannada actor "mesmerising and powerful," Johar praised a sequence depicting Ravana and his multiple inner voices as an inventive triumph of staging and characterization. "Each and every time you appear on screen you command attention and applause," Johar wrote, observing that commanding screen authority comes naturally to the star.
Sai Pallavi earned equal recognition for grounding the production's emotional core. Johar highlighted her portrayal of Sita, writing that she brought distinct agency, unconditional love, and moving sacrifice to the character. Meanwhile, Ravi Dubey drew notice as Lakshman, capturing the fierce, selfless loyalty of Rama's younger brother with an internal warmth that Johar found deeply touching.
Behind the lens, Johar turned his attention to producer Namit Malhotra and director Nitesh Tiwari. Mounting an epic of this magnitude demands serious capital and iron nerve. Johar praised Malhotra's appetite for risk, stating that the producer's conviction to back the ambitious project offered inspiration to the wider creative community. For Tiwari, Johar lauded the discipline of keeping the ancient story direct and clear rather than drowning its core humanity under sheer visual weight.
Johar signed off by urging audiences across the country to head to cinemas with their families, describing himself as an inspired filmmaker and a proud Indian cinemagoer. The public run will now test whether Johar's early enthusiasm translates into sustained momentum across the box office window.