Salman Khan on ‘Ramayana’: ‘Discussion should be about Ram, Ravana, Sita, not Rs 4,000 cr budget’
Salman Khan has a message for those discussing Ranbir Kapoor's ‘Ramayana’: the conversation should be about the epic itself, not the staggering money spent on bringing it to the screen.
At a time when the film's reported Rs 4,000 crore budget, elaborate visual effects and cinematic scale have become major talking points, Salman believes the focus is drifting away from what the story is actually about. Speaking at the trailer launch of his upcoming film ‘Maatrubhumi’ in Mumbai on November 6, the actor shared his thoughts on the much-discussed mythological drama.
"I just think Ramayana ka charcha Ramayana pe hona chahiye na ki VFX and cost of production par. I think this narrative ki 4000 (budget of Ramayana) aur VFX, VFX, VFX. I just don't think ki that is correct," Salman said.
"#Ramayana movie ke baat karni hai to Ramayana par karo, na ki cost of making or VFX par. Ram ke upar baat karo, uski quality par. #Maatrubhumi me jo hero hai usme sab qualities hai Ram jaise" - #SalmanKhan pic.twitter.com/5b8zaKeKU0
— $@M (@SAMTHEBESTEST_) November 6, 2026
He further stressed that conversations around the film should return to its central characters. "I just think ki Ramayana ka charcha Ramayana ke upar hi hona chahiye – Ram, Ravana, Sita," he added.
The actor's comments come amid widespread discussion around the scale of Nitesh Tiwari's film, which stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana.
‘Ramayana’ box office: Ranbir Kapoor's film opens to Rs 64.85 crore
Despite the conversations around its budget and visual effects, ‘Ramayana’ has made a strong start at the Indian box office. The film collected Rs 64.85 crore nett on its opening day, surpassing the first-day collections of several major Bollywood releases, including ‘Pathaan’ and ‘Animal’.
It has also secured the second-biggest Bollywood opening of 2026 so far, behind ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’. The film's box-office performance is expected to receive a further boost over the Diwali period.
What did the reviews say about ‘Ramayana’?
The film has received attention for its visual scale and production design. News18 rated it 3/5 stars, appreciating the effort that went into recreating the mythological world.
Our review noted, "The film is visually beautiful, and the VFX deserve immense appreciation. The makers have clearly invested heavily in bringing this mythological world to life, and several frames are genuinely breathtaking. The scale and visual treatment make it a cinematic experience worth watching on the big screen."
Salman Khan announces ‘Maatrubhumi’ release date
Meanwhile, Salman Khan also announced the release date of his upcoming film ‘Maatrubhumi’. Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, the film is set to arrive in theatres on December 4.
The announcement was made at the film's trailer launch in Mumbai on November 6. The film, which revolves around the Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops, has faced multiple postponements.
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Originally scheduled for an April release, ‘Maatrubhumi’ was subsequently pushed indefinitely. The makers had also considered the Independence Day weekend, but the film did not make it to theatres then.