Cinema VinesSince the teaser for Nitesh Tiwari’s epic Ramayana hit social media on Thursday, chatter has swirled around two key aspects of the film: its casting choices and its visual effects. While a vocal segment of the online community has taken aim at both, veteran actor Chetan Hansraj—who portrays the demon Mali—has stepped forward to defend the production and its crew.
In a candid conversation with Variety India, Hansraj praised the atmosphere on set, describing everyone as “soft‑spoken” and applauding director Yash for treating the cast and crew with kindness. He added that, despite a career spanning 47 years, the 20 days he spent shooting for Ramayana were the best days of his life. The actor also weighed in on the debate over Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Rama, calling the casting “fabulous” and noting that Kapoor’s performance “has carried off his look” brilliantly. He further complimented Sai Pallavi’s work and acknowledged that the decision‑making team—led by Namit Malhotra and Nitesh Tiwari—had conducted extensive research before finalizing the lineup.
Turning to the film’s visual effects, Hansraj dismissed online critics as “keyboard VFX superstars,” arguing that they are “in dreamland.” He urged viewers to watch the movie on the big screen, where the scale of the VFX would be fully appreciated. “All these critics don’t understand the scale,” he said, emphasizing the grandeur of the production.
The trailer, which debuted last week, opens with Yash as the formidable Ravana conquering Lanka before introducing Ranbir Kapoor as Prince Ram. It showcases Ram fighting demons alongside Lakshman, played by Ravi Dubey, and highlights the 14‑year exile that follows a promise to Kaikeyi, portrayed by Lara Dutta. Sita, played by Sai Pallavi, is shown accompanying Ram into the wilderness. The teaser hints at a larger clash between Ram and Ravana, featuring sweeping action sequences and VFX, while Lord Hanuman remains unseen.
Ramayana, helmed by Tiwari and backed by Namit Malhotra, also stars Sunny Deol, Ravi Dubey, Arun Govil, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, and Vivek Oberoi in pivotal roles. The film will be released in two parts, with the first installment scheduled for Diwali 2026.
