Lara Dutta has answered criticism of her Kaikeyi look in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, saying people are fixating on small points.
She recalled asking Tiwari whether Kaikeyi, from Kekaya, should wear jewellery distinct from the other queens. She said going that deep would invite historians' views, so one common style was used across Mithila, Ayodhya and Lanka to tell those cultures apart.
Costume designers Rimple and Harpreet Narula said their choices reflected creative intent rather than strict historical accuracy, after viewers questioned the costumes in the trailer.
Ranbir Kapoor and Yash's Ramayana has crossed ₹800 crore worldwide after six days in cinemas. It grossed over ₹160 crore globally on Tuesday, its second straight day at that level.
The ₹507 crore worldwide opening weekend came in below expectations, but the post-Diwali holidays turned things around. In India it earned ₹94 crore net on Tuesday, taking its domestic total to ₹440 crore net.
It has now overtaken the lifetime collections of PK and Chhaava. It is the first part of a two-part film, with the second due for Diwali 2028.
Actress Sonia Balani is playing Urmila, the wife of Lakshmana, in Ramayana. She landed the role through an audition with Mukesh Chhabra and was locked in within a day.
She says the sets were among the grandest she has worked on, almost like stepping back into Ramji's era. She also recalled Ranbir Kapoor rehearsing his dialogues so intensely that she thought he was chanting, and Ravi telling her that roles choose the actor, not the other way around.
Costume designer Saniya Sardhariya has revealed that Yash's Ravana outfits in Ramayana were very heavy. Most weighed 16 to 20 kg with jewellery, while a few heavy pieces reached 30 to 33 kg.
The crown was the toughest part to design. Even after many mock 3D versions and attempts to lighten it, it still weighed 1.8 kg.
Yash took the long shoot days in stride and amused the crew by turning the sharp parts of his costume into a playful headache for them. Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi star in the film, whose first part is scheduled for Diwali 2026.
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has been warmly praising his son-in-law Ranbir Kapoor after seeing Ramayana Part 1, in which Ranbir plays Rama. His wife Soni Razdan shared his reaction on Instagram with a photo of the two at a Diwali party.
Bhatt has said the film moved him to tears on the big screen. The Nitesh Tiwari-directed epic, which also stars Yash and Sai Pallavi, earned Rs 107 crore on the Monday after Diwali and has passed Rs 500 crore worldwide.
Lyricist Kumar Vishwas says writing for Ramayana felt like a gift, as if he had been chosen for the job. He shared a studio clip with AR Rahman and Shreya Ghoshal showing the team hunting for the right tune.
Vishwas wrote lyrics for every song composed by Rahman and Hans Zimmer, and thanked viewers for connecting with the words on a deeper level. The film is a two-part adaptation with Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Yash as Ravana, and part two is expected around Diwali 2028.
Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, hit screens on November 5 in several languages and formats. Its art director, Ramesh, revealed that more than 150 physical sets were built at Prime Focus Studios in Mumbai, with every structure revised 10 to 15 times. Two standout pieces were Ravana's throne, a fibre and clay structure finished in 24-carat gold leaf that took four months and cost about Rs 1 crore, and Surpanakha's chariot, which took three months and cost about Rs 1.5 crore. Sunny Deol is set to lead the sequel, which is expected in 2028.
Ranbir Kapoor's trainer Nam has posted a black-and-white gym photo of the actor mid-workout, hinting that the fitness work is far from finished. Ranbir plays Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, which opened in cinemas on November 5, and the trainer said he is getting ready for the action in Part 2. Early reactions praised the film's scale and visuals, with Yash's Ravana drawing particular attention. The film earned Rs 32.81 crore on its first day, ahead of Dhurandhar's opening.
Actress Indira Krishnan has shared a warm note about the team behind Ramayana, which hit cinemas worldwide on November 5. Posting a photo from the first cast reading session, she said she has watched Ranbir Kapoor grow as an actor, from Animal to this film, and praised his character on and off camera. She also admired Sai Pallavi's gentle nature and spiritual mindset, and Rakul Preet Singh's work as Surpanakha. Indira thanked director Nitesh Tiwari for guiding her through an emotionally charged scene.
Raghav Juyal makes a brief, late appearance as Meghnad, Ravana's eldest son, in Ramayana Part 1, giving audiences their first look at the character. Meghnad, also called Indrajit, is known in the epic as a skilled warrior. The first film only gives him a short introduction, but he is expected to have a larger role in Ramayana Part 2, due in 2028, where Juyal is also expected to return in a full role.
Bollywood Mirror@bollywoodmirror
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