Actor Nitish Bharadwaj has publicly retracted his earlier endorsement of Nitesh Tiwari’s film Ramayana, stating he is "deeply upset and disappointed" by the final product. The reversal marks a stark contrast to his initial reaction to the trailer, where he predicted an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film and placed the director in the company of Satyajit Ray and Shekhar Kapoor. According to Khaleej Times, Bharadwaj now asserts he cannot find a single positive aspect of the movie, fundamentally shifting his stance from celebratory to critical.
Bharadwaj’s criticism centers on the characterization of Ravana, played by Yash, rather than Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Ram. He argues that depicting the antagonist as a liberal and socially just figure alters the moral framework of the Ramayan. In his view, this interpretation undermines the purpose of Ram’s avatar, which is tied to upholding dharma and tradition. He contends that the film’s narrative misrepresents Bharat’s history and heritage, making it unsuitable to represent Indian cinema on an international stage.
The actor emphasized that the Ramayan is not merely a story but a text integral to the civilizational and spiritual consciousness of Sanatan Bharat. He stated that the heroes, heroine, and antagonist are essential to the values of this Mahakavya and cannot be casually redefined. While he previously praised the film’s production design and visual effects, he now argues that a spectacle of VFX cannot substitute for the core values, philosophical depth, and spiritual essence of the epic.
Ramayana: Part 1, produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios, continues to perform strongly at the box office. The film, which also stars Sai Pallavi as Sita and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, opened in UAE cinemas on November 4. While the visual scale and Yash’s performance have drawn praise, some audiences have questioned whether the writing sufficiently connects viewers with the characters. The second installment is scheduled for release during Diwali 2028.