New posters for the film 'Ramayana' featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash reveal details of costumes and sets

After posting a critique of the approach to depicting characters from mythological stories in recent films, actress Kangana Ranaut has sparked rumors that she is commenting on the forthcoming film 'Ramayana' starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi.

On Friday, the actress and Member of Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party shared a video clip from an old religious film. Along with this, she highly praised the way mythological plots were depicted in old cinema and criticized the use of modern clothing in recent films based on religious figures.

In her Instagram account, Kangana Ranaut wrote under the video: 'The more access people have to technology, the further they move away. We watch recent movies about God where characters who lived thousands of years ago are dressed in clothes resembling modern television series. It gives the impression that designers do not pay attention to the descriptions given in the scriptures. Whereas decades ago, without any visual effects or CGI, the masters of cinematography worked strictly according to the descriptions given in the scriptures. Look at the results, Jai Menaxi Amma.'

In her post, Kangana did not mention 'Ramayana' or any of its actors. However, after the release of the trailer for Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming 'Ramayana', when debates arose over the costumes and stylization of some characters, speculations began online based on her words.

Social media discussions revolve around the looks of Sai Pallavi as Sita and Laura Datta as Kaikeyi. Some users questioned the modern styling of the costumes, while others compared some looks to those shown in mythological TV shows.

Costume designers Rimple and Harpreet Narula commented on this criticism and explained the creative concept behind the film's costumes. They stated that these designs were created considering the cultural context, production needs, and the scale of the project, rather than aiming for an exact reproduction of any historical attire from the Ramayana period.

The designers also mentioned the difficulty of presenting this Indian epic to a global audience and viewers worldwide. These statements came amid ongoing discussions about character stylization, including Sita and Kaikeyi.

This is not the first time Kangana has voiced criticism related to 'Ramayana'. In 2023, she expressed disappointment that Ranbir Kapoor was chosen to play the role of Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari's film. At that time, Kangana made several personal accusations and criticized Kapoor's suitability for the role. She also questioned his acting abilities in the role of Lord Shiva in the 'Brahmastra' franchise.

The highly anticipated film 'Ramayana,' starring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash Starer, continues to attract public attention leading up to its release. The first track, 'Jai Jai Ram,' released on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, is drawing particular discussion. In this spiritually rich song, Ranbir Kapoor portrays Lord Rama, and Sai Pallavi plays Mata Sita.

However, this track has revealed details about the plot that highlight Arijit Singh's uniqueness. To record 'Jai Jai Ram,' Arijit Singh worked through approximately 200 takes. Notably, he was not just recording the song but striving to deeply feel the spirituality and emotion of every attempt.

According to Pinkvilla, Arijit completely immersed himself in the spirituality of this track, exploring emotions with each take. It reached a point where he himself did not know when to stop. Ultimately, Arijit stopped thinking about the technical aspects of the song and fully surrendered to his feelings.

The song, which evokes a sense of reverence in viewers, was created because the singer himself completely dedicated himself to that feeling. 'Jai Jai Ram' is performed by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal. This grand spiritual anthem was composed by AR Rahman, and the lyrics were written by Dr. Kumar Vishwas. Viewers are already very excited that Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi plays Mata Sita. This track is also considered important as it is the first glimpse into the film's world.

Following the news of 200 takes by Arijit, interest in the song has increased. Although Arijit has announced his retirement and will complete all signed projects to take a break.

The film 'Ramayana,' directed by Nitish Tiwari, is produced by Namit Malhotra. The film will be released in two parts. The first part will appear in theaters worldwide on November 6, 2026, coinciding with the Diwali festival. The second part will be released in 2027.

In the film, Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, and Sai Pallavi plays Mata Sita. Yash will play Ravana, Sunny Deol will play Lord Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey will play Lakshmana. Other important roles will be played by Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, and Vivek Oberoi.

Ranbir Kapoor does not only have 'Ramayana.' He will also appear in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film 'Love & War,' where Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal play the lead roles. The filming of this movie is complete, and it is expected to be released in theaters on January 21, 2027.

Currently, all attention is focused on 'Ramayana.' Although there is still some time before the film's release, the story of 'Jai Jai Ram' and Arijit Singh's 200 takes has already heightened the atmosphere around this film before its premiere.

The first track from the film 'Ramayana,' which fans have been eagerly awaiting, was released on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. The song 'Jai Jai Ram,' performed by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, received mixed reactions online, but it is actively gaining popularity on social media as it showcases a scene of Sita and Rama's courtship.

This musical piece features scenes with key characters from the film, including Sita's sisters, whose portrayals were also presented. Below is a description of who played the roles in the project.

The Maharashtra actor Adinath Kotare will take on the role of Bharata. As is known, the role of Bharata is significant in 'Ramayana' because his mother, Kaikeyi, sends Rama into fourteen years of exile. Adinath stated in an interview that he received this role after an audition at Mukesh Chhabda's office. Previously, he auditioned for Nitesh Tiwari's film 'Tarla,' and perhaps Nitesh noticed his work then and offered him a role in 'Ramayana.'

Nitesh Sharma will play the role of Rama's younger brother, Shatrughna. He managed to secure this role with great difficulty. Speaking about the challenges of his career, Nitesh has repeatedly noted that he did not achieve success in cinema overnight, enduring many rejections. Getting this role in 'Ramayana' felt like a miracle to him. Before becoming Shatrughna, he was suddenly replaced in a major role, which led to deep disappointment and a return to his hometown. On his mother's advice, he began worshipping in the Hanuman temple and reading the 'Ram Charitmanas.' On the third day of reading, he received a call from Mukesh Chhabda's office, and after an audition, he was accepted into the project.

Actress Sonia Balani, known from the series 'The Kerala Story,' will embody the character of Urmili, Sita's younger sister. Although Sonia initially wanted to play Shrutakirti, she was given the role of Urmili. Sonia gained fame through 'Kerala Story' and was previously well-known in the television industry, starting her career there before moving to cinema. She acted in the shows 'Baad Mein Achhe Lagte Hain,' 'Dil Diya Gallan,' and 'Tu Mera Hero.'

Assamese actress Surbhi Das will play the role of Shrutakirti, Sita's cousin, and will be Shatrughna's wife. Surbhi reported that after working in television, she was looking for digital format and film projects, and it was then that she received an offer to participate in 'Ramayana.'

In the film 'Ramayana,' Riya Kapoor received the role of Mandavi, Sita's cousin and Bharata's wife. Riya had previously participated in minor roles, in addition to South Indian films.

In addition to these actresses, Indira Krishnan will appear in 'Ramayana' as Kaushalya, Sonal Jau as Sumitra, and Lara Datta will play the role of Kaikeyi. Arun Govil will portray King Dasharatha, and Ravi Dubey will play Lakshmana. Ranbir Kapoor will play Ram. The film is scheduled for release this year to celebrate Diwali.