The Ramayana film featuring Ranbir Kapoor is constantly in the spotlight of the industry, with various personalities expressing their opinions on this work. Although the acting performance did not draw objections, discussions often arise regarding the selection of actors for this role. Now, Mukesh Khanna, known as 'Shaktiman,' has commented on the Ramayana film and Ranbir Kapoor's casting.
In an interview with Bollywood Now, Mukesh Khanna raised questions regarding Ranbir's participation in the project. He noted that in ordinary films, audiences rarely criticize the choice of an actor for any role. However, the situation changes when it comes to sacred themes like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
According to Khanna, the public expects to see how the image of God Rama is presented on screen. He recalled that even from the beginning, when the possibility of this actor's involvement was discussed, people were already expressing doubts, pointing to his participation in films like 'Animal.'
Mukesh Khanna emphasized that if the foundations of faith are touched upon, especially those related to the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the audience will demand explanations as to why this particular person was chosen for the role of Rama. He stated that unlike other roles where details are overlooked, in the case of religious narratives, the essence is important.
Furthermore, Mukesh Khanna commented on the action scenes in the film. He admitted that the film has not yet been released and he has not seen it in its entirety, but based on the visual material presented, it became clear that God Rama is depicted as an action hero. Khanna reminded that in childhood, he saw many Ramayanas and Ramlilas, and never saw Rama throwing arrows while climbing a tree.
He believes that God Rama was not just an archer, but 'Maryada Purushottam Rama,' whose essence is connected to restraint, dignity, and virtue. However, in the film, Rama is shown as too active in terms of action. The actor expressed dissatisfaction that the image of Rama might be distanced from its traditional essence and presented solely as an action hero. He also questioned whether they are trying to make him look like Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, or Ranjit Kapoor.
Khanna clarified his point by noting that if Rama were such a powerful 'action man' capable of handling everything alone, then there would be no need for the help of Hanuman and the entire Vanara army. In his opinion, the image of Rama was not like a 'lone warrior.'
Next, Mukesh Khanna touched upon the film's special effects. Since huge sums are spent on VFX, he believes that faith should be more important than the special effects themselves. He noted that today, the display of magnificent visual effects and action sequences has become commonplace. Overseas, the audience may praise the film for its spectacle, but in India, the Ramayana will be judged not by VFX, but by the level of faith.
Khanna concluded that for the Indian audience, the dignified portrayal and adherence to the character's मर्यादा (maryada - decorum/dignity) of characters like Rama, Sita, Lakshman, Bharat, and Hanuman is much more important. When the Ramayana was broadcast on television, people watched it not just as a series; entire villages gathered together, and many performed aarti before watching. The deep faith of people in the Ramayana requires that when it is translated to the screen, attention is paid not only to grandeur and special effects but also to preserving this faith and dignity.
