Veteran actor Gajendra Chauhan has shared his views on the trailer of the upcoming mythological film Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari. Chauhan, who is widely recognised for playing Yudhishthira in BR Chopra’s Mahabharat, said he was not completely impressed by the trailer but praised Ranbir Kapoor’s appearance as Lord Ram.
The upcoming film has generated considerable interest because of its ambitious scale and high profile cast. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Ram, while Sai Pallavi portrays Sita and Yash appears as Raavan. The film has been planned as a large scale cinematic adaptation of the Ramayana and has attracted considerable attention since the release of its promotional material.
Chauhan offered a traditionalist perspective while discussing the trailer. He said that some aspects of the visual presentation did not meet his expectations, particularly the portrayal of Kaikeyi in the scene connected with Lord Ram's exile.
According to Chauhan, the styling of Kaikeyi appeared too modern for the mythological setting. He also felt that the emotional impact of the sequence could have been stronger. His comments reflect his long experience of working in television productions based on Indian epics and mythological stories.
Despite his criticism, Chauhan had positive comments about Ranbir Kapoor's appearance as Lord Ram. He said the actor looked convincing in the role and matched the traditional image of Lord Ram that many viewers have in their minds.
However, Chauhan made it clear that appearance alone would not determine his final opinion. He indicated that audiences would have to watch the complete film before judging Ranbir Kapoor's performance.
Chauhan also discussed the broader challenge of casting established Bollywood stars in mythological roles. According to him, actors who already have strong public images can sometimes make it difficult for audiences to immediately accept them as revered mythological characters.
He compared this with his own experience of playing Yudhishthira. Chauhan recalled that when he appeared in Mahabharat, he did not have the same level of recognition as many established film stars. He suggested that relatively unfamiliar actors can sometimes be more easily accepted in mythological roles because audiences do not associate them strongly with previous characters.
The comments have added another perspective to the ongoing discussion surrounding Ramayana. The film has already received significant attention for its visual effects, casting and production scale. Some viewers have praised the trailer's visuals, while others have debated whether the characters and performances match their traditional expectations.
Chauhan also praised the decision to cast Arun Govil as King Dashrath. Govil became widely associated with Lord Ram after playing the character in Ramanand Sagar's iconic television series Ramayan. Chauhan's comments suggest that the presence of an actor strongly associated with mythological television could help connect the new film with audiences familiar with earlier adaptations.
Interestingly, Chauhan himself has experience portraying characters from the Ramayana. He played Dasharath in the 2002 television series Ramayan, adding further context to his observations about the new film and its approach to mythological storytelling.
The new Ramayana is being presented as a major cinematic project with an international scale of production. The makers have focused heavily on visual effects and detailed production design to bring the epic story to the big screen.
The film's cast includes several prominent actors. Along with Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, the project features actors including Sunny Deol, Ravi Dubey, Arun Govil and Vivek Oberoi in important roles.
The casting of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram has been one of the most discussed aspects of the project. While some viewers have welcomed his appearance, others have questioned whether his established image from previous films could affect audience acceptance of him as a revered mythological character.
Chauhan's comments reflect this debate. While he expressed reservations about the casting of established stars in mythological roles, he specifically acknowledged that Ranbir Kapoor's appearance was convincing.
The actor's comments have also drawn attention to the difference between judging a trailer and judging a complete film. A trailer contains only selected scenes and is designed primarily to introduce the characters, visual style and overall tone. The final performance and emotional depth of the characters can only be evaluated after the complete film is released.
For Chauhan, the visual presentation of characters is particularly important in a mythological story. He believes that costumes, expressions and emotional scenes need to support the traditional understanding of the characters.
His comments about Kaikeyi have therefore become an important part of his assessment of the trailer. He questioned whether the character's styling and presentation were appropriate for the period and setting portrayed in the film.
At the same time, Chauhan's praise for Ranbir Kapoor indicates that his response to the trailer was not entirely negative. He recognised that the actor's appearance could fit the traditional image of Lord Ram.
The discussion surrounding Ramayana is expected to continue as the release date approaches. More promotional material and information about the film's characters are likely to give audiences a clearer idea of the makers' interpretation of the epic.
The project also faces the challenge of meeting the expectations of viewers who are already familiar with different versions of the Ramayana. Earlier television adaptations created strong visual identities for characters such as Ram, Sita, Dasharath and Kaikeyi. Any new interpretation is therefore likely to be compared with those established portrayals.
Chauhan's own association with Mahabharat and Ramayan gives his comments additional significance among audiences familiar with Indian mythological television. His experience of portraying characters from these stories allows him to offer a perspective based on his previous work in the genre.
For now, his overall response to the Ramayana trailer remains mixed. He has expressed reservations about certain scenes and character presentations while praising Ranbir Kapoor's appearance as Lord Ram and Arun Govil's casting as Dasharath.
The final assessment, according to Chauhan, will depend on the complete film rather than the trailer alone. As audiences await the theatrical release, the discussion around casting, visual effects, costumes and the treatment of the epic story is likely to remain an important part of the film's publicity.
Ramayana is therefore entering its next stage with considerable public interest. The response from experienced actors such as Gajendra Chauhan adds another layer to the conversation, particularly because of his own long association with mythological television.
With Ranbir Kapoor in the lead role, Yash as Raavan and a large ensemble cast, the film is expected to be one of the major Indian cinematic releases to watch. The makers will ultimately have to balance modern filmmaking technology with the cultural and emotional expectations associated with the Ramayana.