‘Unimpressed with Ramayana’: Mahabharat’s Gajendra Chauhan questions Ranbir Kapoor as Rama

Actor Gajendra Chauhan has expressed dissatisfaction with the visuals of the upcoming Ramayana film starring Ranbir Kapoor. Chauhan, who previously played Dashrath in BR Chopra’s 2002 Ramayan, believes that excessive reliance on technology can detract from the realism of such epics. He criticized the graphics used in the trailer, stating that it "kills reality" and is more suitable for cartoons than traditional cinema.

Chauhan also highlighted a scene between Dashrath and Kaikeyi in the original 2002 Ramayan, which he felt was a highlight due to the meticulous attention to detail. He was disappointed with the modern appearance of characters like Kaikeyi, who was dressed in a contemporary saree in the film. Chauhan further criticized the title of the film, arguing that it should be called Ramayan instead of Ramayana, as he believes Hindi speakers should be consistent with their terminology.

He also expressed concern over the lack of familiarity with Indian mythology among younger members of the industry, recalling an incident where an assistant director mispronounced character names. Chauhan concluded by stating his disappointment with the casting of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, suggesting that historically, experienced actors without an established star image were preferred for such roles.