16 October,2026 08:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
A still from Ramayana trailer
Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana has been touted as the most expensive Indian film ever made. Its producer, Namit Malhotra, has previously claimed that the two-part mythological epic has been mounted on a staggering budget of Rs 4000 crore. However, Yash, who stars in and co-produces the film, explained why producer Namit Malhotra has been vocal about the film's massive investment and argued that the figure should be viewed through the lens of its global reach.
"People have not let go of Namit Malhotra ever since he spoke about spending Rs 4,000 crore on Ramayana. This is the problem in our country," he said.
The actor argued that talking about the amount publicly becomes relevant because the film is being made for a global audience. "When we go abroad to promote our films, if we tell people that we have made a small-budget film, they may not give it the importance it deserves. We have to confidently tell them how much we have invested in making it. We need to showcase our country and what we are capable of," Yash said.
Yash also urged Indian audiences to stop undermining homegrown projects, highlighting what he believes is a tendency to criticise films made in the country. "The figure he quoted is the collective budget. Let others try to pull you down, but I request you not to behave like the Britishers and follow a divide-and-rule approach. Let us focus on making this film successful. We need to come together as a country. I request the people of Karnataka to watch it with their entire families," he said.
Ramayana's VFX has been a subject of debate since the makers began unveiling the film's promotional content. Yash addressed that backlash too. "I often see that whenever a teaser or trailer is released in India, people immediately start comparing it with other films and pulling it down, saying the VFX should have been like this or that, or that a particular actor should have been cast. We cannot keep pulling each other down in our own country," he said.
Yash plays the antagonist Ravana in the two Ramayana films, with Ranbir Kapoor essaying Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi playing Sita. The film, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, also features a star-studded ensemble cast, including Ravie Dubey, Sunny Deol, Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, and Kunal Kapoor. Ramayana Part one is slated to release worldwide on November 6.
