03 August,2026 03:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Shiv Sagar on Ramayana (Pics/X)
Ramanand Sagar's grandson, Shiv Sagar, has shared his candid reaction to the trailer of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana. While he praised Yash as Ravana and Sai Pallavi as Sita, he expressed doubts over Ranbir Kapoor's casting as Lord Ram. Shiv also explained why he believes fresh faces are better suited for such iconic mythological roles.
In a video shared on Instagram, Shiv Sagar reacted to Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana trailer and said, "I saw the trailer that was released yesterday, and of course, the trailer was much better than the teaser because the previous teaser they had put out had very little information. This was a longer trailer where we could see more of the characters, more of the VFX, and there was also the reveal of Ravan, who is played by Yash.
"Overall, I really like the casting of Yash as Ravan, and I also really like Sai Pallavi as Sita because they're from South India, and these actors really understand our mythology. These are stories that have been told to them from a very young age by their grandparents. So they really know the mannerisms and understand these characters very well."
"But I did not really care much for some of the other actors. I felt that, typically, what we have done is always cast a fresh face for a character like Ram. Because Ranbir has a lot of baggage with him, especially after Animal, I really don't know if he will be accepted as Ram," he said.
The trailer was released in the early hours of July 30, 2026. It opens with Yash as Ravana taking over the kingdom of Lanka as its king. It then traces the mythology of the Ramayana, beginning with Lord Ram's days in Ayodhya. From Ram honouring Kaikeyi's demand and leaving for exile to the Surpanakha episode and the 'Sita Haran', the trailer offers a detailed glimpse into the epic's key events.
The Shri Ramlila Mahasangh has written to director Nitesh Tiwari ahead of the release of Ramayana: Part 1, issuing a strong warning to the makers. The President of Shri Ramlila Mahasangh, Arjun Kumar, in his formal letter to the makers, demanded that the film be screened for a delegation before its theatrical release this Diwali, both in India and overseas.
