‘Apne Unko Salman Khan Bana Diya Hai…’ Mukesh Khanna Questions Ram’s Action Scene In Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana

Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna has criticized Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Rama in Ramayana, particularly its action-heavy sequences. He said the film appears to present Rama like a modern action hero rather than the revered “Maryada Purushottam.”

Khanna shared his reaction in a recent conversation with Bollywood Now. His comments came after the release of Nitesh Tiwari’s official Ramayana trailer, which features Ranbir as Rama and Yash as Ravana. The trailer was officially unveiled in July and showcases the film’s large-scale visual effects and battle sequences.

Khanna specifically objected to a sequence in which Rama appears to move through the trees while shooting arrows. He said he had read the Ramayana several times and watched many Ramlila performances, but had not seen Rama portrayed in that manner. For Khanna, the issue is not Rama being shown as a skilled archer, but the style of action used in the film.

He then compared the portrayal with some of Bollywood and Indian cinema’s biggest action stars. Khanna said, “Aapne unko Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth bana diya hai. Nahi sahab, Ram Ram hai. Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram. Woh smile karte the, even Samudra ko bhi haath jodkar kehte the, hatt jao mujhe aage jaana hai.”

Khanna also criticized the film for presenting Rama as a character driven primarily by action. He said, “Ramji aise fight nahi karte the. Ramji ko man of action bana diya, Clint Eastwood bana diya.” His comments focus on the difference between depicting Rama as a warrior and presenting him through the visual language of a contemporary action film.

The criticism follows Khanna’s earlier comments about Ranbir taking on the role. In August 2025, he questioned whether the actor could convey the traditional image of Maryada Purushottam Rama, while acknowledging that Kapoor is a good actor. He had also raised concerns about the influence of his previous role in Animal on how audiences might perceive him as Rama.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is planned as a two-part cinematic adaptation. Ranbir Kapoor plays Rama, while Sai Pallavi portrays Sita, Yash plays Ravana and Ravie Dubey appears as Lakshman. Sunny Deol plays Hanuman in the film.

The project is produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios in association with DNEG and Monster Mind Creations. The production is designed for IMAX and features music by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman. Ramayana: Part One is scheduled to release worldwide on November 6, 2026.

The filmmakers have previously described the project as an attempt to bring the ancient epic to a global audience through large-scale filmmaking and visual effects. Prime Focus Studios has also emphasized its aim to preserve the story’s cultural significance while presenting it with modern cinematic technology.