Veteran actor Gajendra Chauhan, best remembered for his iconic role as Yudhishthira in the classic Mahabharat series, has weighed in on the buzz surrounding the upcoming mega-project Ramayana. While he extended his congratulations to the makers for the ambitious production, Chauhan expressed strong reservations regarding the film’s title. He pointed out that it should be titled Ramayan rather than Ramayana, emphasizing that Indian mythological epics should retain their traditional linguistic identities rather than adapting them to suit Western sensibilities. He noted a similar preference for the spelling of Mahabharat over Mahabharta, insisting that our cultural originality must remain intact when presenting these stories to a global audience.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios alongside DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations, the film boasts a massive star cast including Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. The project is slated for a two-part release, with the first installment arriving on November 5, 2026, followed by the second in Diwali 2027. Despite the scale of the investment, Chauhan feels that contemporary mythological retellings often lack the ‘soul’ that defined earlier television classics. He argued that the emotional resonance found in the writing, costumes, and acting of the past is being overshadowed by an over-reliance on visual effects and CGI.
Chauhan also raised concerns about how modern star images might impact the audience’s ability to connect with mythological figures. He reflected on how actors like Arun Govil became synonymous with their characters for decades, a feat he believes is harder to achieve today. While he acknowledged that younger audiences might be drawn to high-tech presentations, he maintained that long-term success hinges on emotional depth rather than technical flashiness. Ultimately, the actor believes that instead of altering Indian traditions to fit international standards, the focus should remain on inviting the world to appreciate the authenticity of our heritage.