Salman Khan speaks out about the Ramayana film: we should talk about the qualities of Lord Rama, not the budget and visual effects

The new large-budget Indian film 'Ramayana' premiered in global cinemas on November 5, shortly before Diwali. Actress Lara Dutta, who portrayed Kakei, shared an emotional message about her involvement in this project, detailing how she managed to secure the role of one of the 'most misunderstood women in history.'

In the plot of 'Ramayana,' Queen Kakei asks King Dasharatha for two boons that directly affect Rama. The first boon is to make Bharahtra the king of Ayodhya and heir to the throne; the second is to send Rama into exile in the forest wilderness for fourteen years.

On her Instagram page, Lara published several photos of her Kakei look from the film, accompanying them with a long text. She described participating in such a historical journey as a huge stroke of luck. She began by stating that her desire, which started many years ago, was to become something more than mere existence, and today this desire finds its place in eternal history.

She further noted what a great honor it is to play a mother whom history often misunderstands. She was entrusted with conveying her human emotions: pain, weaknesses, guilt, and regret. She emphasized that this woman changed the course of history or perhaps guided it along the path it was always meant to take. She expressed deep humility and gratitude.

Speaking about the film's release, Lara expressed hope that her small contribution would help present the image of Mother Kakei fairly. She wished viewers to look beyond old perceptions and accept her role in fulfilling the divine prophecy. She concluded her address with the phrase 'Jai Shri Ram.'

Thanking the creators, the actress thanked Namit Malhotra and Nitesh Tiwari for this wonderful opportunity, as well as her team of actors and the crew. She called the collaboration a stroke of luck. She added that she misses her father and wished he could see the film. She concluded that some stories are not just told, but lived, felt, and remain within us.

Notably, in this post, Lara Dutta presented the look from the second part of 'Ramayana' in advance. Although it is unknown whether she did this intentionally or accidentally, the look in the white sari will be shown in the second part of 'Ramayana,' where she appears as a widow, since King Dasharatha passes away in the first part.

'Ramayana,' shot with a budget of approximately 400 billion rupees, is one of the most expensive films not only in India but also in the world. With the help of visual effects from DNEG studio, eight-time Oscar winner, this film is positioned as the first Indian film comparable to Hollywood blockbusters. For the global release, the creators collaborated with Sony Pictures, allowing the film to be released on the largest scale among all Indian films—on 70,000 screens. In 'Ramayana,' Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi plays Sita, and Yash portrays Ravana.

The film 'Ramayana' is considered one of the biggest projects in the Hindi cinema industry, boasting a budget of around 4000 crore. It will be released in two parts, with the first part preparing for release in the near future. Actors Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash are actively promoting the film by sharing their experiences during conversations.

During one interview, Ranbir made a rather unexpected statement. While discussing the filming process, Ranbir Kapoor mentioned the third part of 'Ramayana' in a conversation with Review Nation.

The actor stated that he has completed half of the shooting for his role in the second part of 'Ramayana', and that filming is ongoing. He emphasized that despite working on the second or potential third part, this story will remain with them forever. Ranbir noted: 'This is something that happens only once in life. Regardless of the outcome, the truth is that we were given the opportunity to show this on such a grand scale. When we talk about it, it is a moment that defines our lives.'

Nevertheless, the film's producer Namit Malhotra and director Nitish Tiwari have not yet made an official announcement regarding the existence of a third part. Currently, they have only mentioned two parts: the first part will be released on November 5th, and the second part is rumored to be planned for Diwali 2028.

The cast of the film 'Ramayana' also includes stars such as Ravi Dubey, Arun Govil, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Lara Dutta, Faisal Malik, and Kunaal Kapoor.

The film 'Ramayana: Rise of the Legend,' featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, generated significant buzz. Its grand premiere took place in Los Angeles for invited guests and content creators, after which initial opinions on the picture began to emerge.

Reviews were divided: one foreign critic called the film extremely grandiose and magnificent, while another viral review raised serious questions regarding the plot, visual effects, and acting. This situation led to active discussion about the film.

One international reviewer highly praised the film as an epic spectacle, noting that the portrayal of Lord Rama in it differs from the usual depiction. While saying the name Rama, he jokingly mentioned that he hoped to pronounce it correctly. In this critic's opinion, the scale of the picture is vast, and its climax is capable of surprising viewers.

However, there is also a contrasting viewpoint: in one viral review, the film was given a rating of only 1.5 out of 5. This review noted that despite the large scale, the film lacks emotional depth. The critic also questioned the work on visual effects, the pacing of the narrative, and the actors' performances, although he emphasized that this is just one person's opinion and not a final verdict on the film.

The Climax Made the Critic Exclaim

The climax of 'Ramayana' caused the most resonance among positive reviews. A foreign critic recounted that after the film ended, the screen went dark, and he could not contain his reaction, loudly exclaiming 'No.' He also speculated that the ending is so captivating that viewers will wait for a sequel.

If we take this critic's words as truth, the climax could indeed be shocking for the audience, although he did not reveal any major plot twists. Now it remains to be seen how much the audience will like such an ending.

What Did the Critic Say About the Hindi Version?

Another interesting point is that this critic preferred to watch the original Hindi version of the film. According to him, the Hindi version was about 30 minutes longer than the English dubbed version. He wanted to see the film in its pristine form, so he chose the Hindi version.

This is significant because 'Ramayana' is a story closely tied to Indian culture and faith. How the dialogues, emotions, and cultural references are presented in Hindi can hold special meaning for viewers.

The Film Is Over Three Hours Long, Raising Questions About VFX

The negative review also criticized the film's length. The critic complained that the picture, lasting about 3 hours and 20 minutes, seemed too drawn out in some scenes. He accused that many moments slow down the development of the plot instead of advancing it. Furthermore, he expressed disappointment with the use of CGI in scenes depicting forests, palaces, and battles.

He also noted that the film does not pay enough attention to the emotional and moral aspects of the Ramayana story. Nevertheless, these remarks reflect only this critic's point of view, not the general opinion of all viewers.

'Ramayana: Rise of the Legend,' directed by Nitish Tiwari and starring Namit Malhotra, the first episode will be released in theaters on November 5, 2026, for the celebration of Diwali. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi plays Sita's mother, and Yash plays Ravana. The second part is planned for release in Diwali 2027.

At present, opinions on the film are divided: some have praised its grand scale and climax, while others have questioned the plot and visual effects. It remains for the audience to decide how impressive the experience of watching this millennia-old epic on the big screen will be.