‘Deeply upset’: Nitish Bharadwaj takes back Oscar praise for Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana over Yash’s Ravana

Actor Nitish Bharadwaj, renowned for his portrayal of Lord Krishna in the popular television series Mahabharat, has retracted his earlier accolades for Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana, expressing deep disappointment in the film's depiction of the epic. Bharadwaj, who also portrayed Lord Rama in BR Chopra's 2001 television series Ramayan, had initially praised the ambitious adaptation by director Nitesh Tiwari, even forecasting an Oscar win for the film.

However, after viewing the movie, the actor vehemently criticized the creators, especially their interpretation of Ravana, played by Yash. In a forceful Instagram post on Tuesday, Bharadwaj contended that the film's narrative had distorted the moral and spiritual essence of the Hindu epic. He questioned whether the production warranted representing Indian cinema on the global stage.

Explaining his objections, Bharadwaj emphasized that the Ramayana was more than just a story, asserting it as a crucial component of India's cultural and spiritual identity. He strongly disagreed with the film's portrayal of Ravana as a benevolent and socially just ruler, arguing that such an interpretation altered the moral framework of the original epic.

Furthermore, the actor contended that the film prioritized visual spectacle over the philosophical and spiritual values of the Mahakavya. Bharadwaj concluded that the movie did not merit representing Indian cinema internationally due to its misrepresentation of what he perceives as India's history, heritage, and spiritual values.

This latest statement signifies a substantial shift from his initial reaction to the film's trailer. At that time, Bharadwaj had enthusiastically lauded the production's scale, visual effects, and cinematography, as well as the collaboration between international composer Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman on the film's music. In his previous post, he hailed Tiwari as a significant gift to world cinema and commended the performances of Ranbir Kapoor and Yash.

The Ramayana has maintained a robust presence at the global box office, generating Rs 6.739 billion in revenue over its first five days, with Rs 4.139 billion originating from India and Rs 2.6 billion from international markets. The film's domestic net collection stands at Rs 3.4635 billion, with the Hindi version accounting for the majority of the earnings, followed by Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam. Overseas markets contribute approximately 38.6 percent to the film's worldwide gross.