'Ramayana’ actor Chetan Hansraj slams critics over Ranbir Kapoor’s casting

Actor Chetan Hansraj has defended the upcoming epic movie Ramayana against public criticism regarding its visual effects and casting choices.

He specifically supported the casting of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, accusing critics of judging the film prematurely.

Speaking to Variety India, Hansraj said producer Namit Malhotra and the creative team conducted extensive research before finalizing the cast. They carefully selected the best actors for each role after thorough deliberation.

The film features an ensemble cast, including Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, Sunny Deol, Ravie Dubey, Arun Govil, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, and Vivek Oberoi.

Hansraj praised Ranbir Kapoor’s casting as the main protagonist, describing it as "fabulous".

Addressing the negative online reaction toward the film's visual effects and cast, Hansraj urged the public to wait until the movie is released. He stated that viewers will only "understand the scale" once they see the final product on screen. He also referred to harsh online critics as "keyboard VFX superstars".

Furthermore, Hansraj praised the atmosphere on the set, describing the cast and crew as respectful and soft-spoken. He particularly commended co-star Yash for his professionalism and humility during shooting.

Hansraj noted that despite his 47-year career in the entertainment industry, the 20 days he spent filming Ramayana were the best of his entire career.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana will be released in two parts. The first installment is scheduled to hit theaters during Diwali 2026, while the second part will be released in Diwali 2027.

-SA/N