Actor Mukesh Khanna has expressed serious doubts regarding the fidelity of Ranbir Kapoor’s cinematic adaptation of the Ramayana, asserting that the production has compromised the epic’s core narrative for the sake of spectacle. Speaking to the news agency ANI, as reported by Khaleej Times, the veteran actor acknowledged the massive scale of the project but maintained that financial success and extravagant production values should not come at the cost of the original story’s truth. He stressed that filmmakers adapting religious texts carry a heavy responsibility to preserve their authenticity rather than altering them for cinematic convenience.
Khanna questioned the necessity of the film’s reported four-thousand-crore rupee budget, arguing that the source material possesses sufficient emotional depth to engage modern audiences without such immense expenditure. He stated that if the grandeur of the production overshadows the story itself, the investment is wasted. According to the report, he believes that the pursuit of visual spectacle has led to the sacrifice of the narrative’s essential emotions and spirit. "I suppose it must be that good," he remarked regarding claims of the film's unprecedented scale, yet he remained unconvinced by its artistic merit.
Regarding the casting, Khanna noted that while Kapoor delivered a competent performance, his portrayal failed to capture the traditional composure associated with Lord Rama. He observed that the actor appeared more like a conventional Hindi film warrior than the dignified figure of Maryada Purushottam. "Atleast I didn't feel so," Khanna said when asked if the audience would perceive Kapoor as the divine character. He contrasted this with Arun Govil’s performance in the historic television series Ramayan, praising Govil for capturing the calmness and smile that defined the character.
The actor also directed criticism toward the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), arguing that the current body is insufficient for regulating mythological content. He proposed the creation of a dedicated commission comprising scholars to review scripts and creative decisions before production begins. Khaleej Times reported that Khanna insisted any project based on historical or mythological subjects, including those involving Lord Ganesha or the Mahabharata, must receive approval from such a scholarly panel to prevent inappropriate creative liberties. The film, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, features a star-studded cast including Sai Pallavi, Yash, and Sunny Deol, but Khanna’s comments highlight ongoing tensions between commercial blockbuster filmmaking and religious sensitivity in Indian cinema.