Nitish Bharadwaj pulls back praise for Ramayana Part 1; declares deep disappointment

Actor Nitish Bharadwaj has publicly reversed his earlier praise for the film Ramayana Part 1 – The Rise of the Legend, expressing deep disappointment after seeing the final release. In a strongly worded Instagram post, Bharadwaj questioned the movie’s portrayal of the epic’s central characters, especially the depiction of Ravana played by Yash, and argued that visual spectacle cannot replace the philosophical and spiritual essence of the Ramayana.

Bharadwaj reminded followers that the Ramayana is “deeply embedded in India’s civilizational and spiritual consciousness” and that its characters cannot be casually redefined. He wrote that presenting Ravana as “an exceptionally liberal, socially just and fair figure” alters the moral framework of the epic and undermines the purpose of Lord Ram’s incarnation, which he said is to uphold Dharma, tradition and Maryada.

He went further to withdraw the praise he had previously given the film, stating, “I am deeply upset and disappointed with this film. I withdraw my earlier post about it. I cannot find a single good word to say about it.” Bharadwaj also criticized the film’s reliance on visual effects, adding, “A spectacle of VFX can never substitute for the core values, philosophical depth and spiritual essence of this Mahakavya.”

In his post, Bharadwaj questioned whether the movie deserves to represent Indian cinema on the international stage, claiming that its narrative misrepresents India’s history, heritage and core spiritual values. He concluded by stressing the need for responsible representation of the country’s cultural legacy.

The actor’s reversal marks a sharp departure from his earlier reaction to the film. After the trailer release, Bharadwaj had praised the project’s scale, technical ambition and production design, even predicting a 100% Oscar for Best Foreign Film. He congratulated producer Namit Malhotra and director Nitesh Tiwari, highlighted Hans Zimmer’s collaboration, and urged Ranbir Kapoor to take responsibility for representing India’s heritage through his role choices.