Cinema VinesIn a recent Zoom call, veteran actor Annu Kapoor voiced his concerns about Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming epic, Ramayana, specifically targeting the choice of Sai Pallavi to portray Goddess Sita. Kapoor, who has long been a respected figure in Indian cinema, questioned whether the film’s makers have fully considered the religious and cultural weight carried by such an iconic character. He remarked that Sita is revered as a mother figure and that the casting decision should reflect that reverence.
Kapoor also expressed uncertainty about the film’s current status, asking whether it has already reached theatres. He added that the project might not bring anything fundamentally new to audiences, suggesting that it could simply be a technologically upgraded version of Ramanand Sagar’s beloved television adaptation. “Whatever they make, they will only upgrade Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayana technologically and perhaps increase its scale,” he said, questioning the creative direction of the film.
Ramayana boasts one of the largest ensembles in Indian cinema, featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. The cast also includes Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha, Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari, and Arun Govil as King Dashrath, with additional appearances by Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor, Adinath Kothare and Mohit Raina.
The film is set to make history by debuting at San Diego Comic‑Con on July 23, becoming only the second Indian feature to be showcased at the global event after Kalki 2898 AD. Ranbir, Yash and producer Namit Kumar are expected to attend the special presentation, which promises a cinematic experience described as “In an age of gods and kings, the fate of worlds hangs in the balance.”
With a reported budget of ₹4,000 crore, Ramayana ranks among the most expensive Indian films ever made. The score will feature contributions from Oscar‑winning composer Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman. The first part is slated for a Diwali 2026 release, while the second chapter is anticipated to hit screens in 2027.
