Residents are eagerly awaiting the long-awaited film 'Ramayana,' which is scheduled for release in 2026. Its recently released trailer has elicited mixed reactions from the public. Actor Gajendra Chauhan, who portrayed Yudhishthira in B.R. Chopra's series 'Mahabharata,' offered his assessment of the trailer, noting that he was displeased with Ranbir's portrayal.
Gajendra Chauhan expressed dissatisfaction with the 'Ramayana' trailer, which boasts a budget of 4000 crore. He also raised questions regarding the casting choices and the actors' attire. In an interview for the Indian audience, Gajendra shared his thoughts on the trailer. He stated that after watching it, he did not feel impressed.
He recalled his role in B.R. Chopra's 'Ramayana,' where he played Dasharatha, and mentioned that the scene with Kaikeyi and Dasharatha was captivating. This scene required an entire day of shooting because Ravi Chopra insisted it be shot in one take to maintain its impact, calling this scene the 'soul of Ramayana.'
Gajendra Chauhan acknowledged that the creators invested heavily in the film's production, and the producers aimed to create a good project. However, he found the graphics insufficiently impressive, suggesting that realism would have been better utilized instead. He also noted that the scene with Kaikeyi and Vardhan did not impress him because their costumes appeared modern. He emphasized that in their version of 'Ramayana,' Kaikeyi wore black clothing.
Although a final verdict can only be reached after watching the entire film, he stated that 'Ramayana' and 'Mahabharata' reflect culture and civilization. He warned that adding modern graphical elements or creating palaces using graphics as a backdrop strips the work of its essence. He added that older versions of 'Ramayana' and 'Mahabharata' were popular precisely because they were realistic, not because of the presence of special effects.
Regarding the cast, he observed that many stars today have established images, which makes it difficult for them to embody mythological roles, and audiences might not accept them in those roles. While Ranbir Kapoor looks good in his role, he noted that until the film is released, it is difficult to judge whether his image aligns with our perception of Rama—his appearance, royal status, etc.
He highly praised Arun Govil's casting as Dasharatha following his role as Rama. The film 'Ramayana' is planned for theatrical release to coincide with Diwali this year. Sai Pallavi, Sani Deol, Ravi Dubey, and Yash Aham will also participate in the film.
