Ranbir Kapoor's casting as Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari's ‘Ramayana: Part One’ was among the most debated decisions surrounding the ambitious mythological film, even before it reached theatres. While the actor has now received considerable attention for his portrayal, the journey to the big screen was accompanied by social media criticism, questions about his suitability for the role and scrutiny of his personal life. Now, actor Indira Krishnan, who plays Kaushalya, has recalled the hostility surrounding the casting and revealed how some of the reactions even reached her personally.

To advertise here,

In an exclusive conversation with News18, Indira said that a section of the audience was unconvinced about the film before its release. She recalled receiving messages questioning how she could play the mother of an actor who had previously spoken about eating beef. The remarks referred to an old interview in which Ranbir had described himself as a beef enthusiast, which resurfaced amid discussions about his casting as Rama.

“The audience needs to understand that making such a big film is a complete risk for Namit Malhotra (producer). He has broken the barriers and pushed the envelope to showcase Ramayana to the world of today. People, the world over, are comparing it to The Odyssey today. But before they saw the film, most audiences weren’t convinced,” Indira said.

She went on to recall the messages she received during the pre-release period. “They were almost disappointed that Ranbir was cast as Rama. I remember getting texts that read, ‘So, you’re playing a beef eater’s mother?’ There was too much going on,” she added.

Indira Krishnan says Ranbir Kapoor remained silent amid ‘Ramayana’ trolling

The actor also spoke about how Ranbir handled the criticism directed at him. Despite the online backlash and questions surrounding his casting, Indira said the actor did not publicly react to the controversy and remained focused on his work on the sets.

ALSO READ: Ranbir Kapoor's ‘Ramayana’ reportedly enters 99th Academy Awards race; here’s what we know 

“Ranbir was trolled so badly. But that man never uttered a word or reacted to any of it. He just came on set and gave his 200 percent. I feel some of these trolls were paid. Some thought Ramayana wouldn’t be a success,” she said.

Her comments offer a glimpse into the atmosphere surrounding the film before its release, when discussions about its casting, visual effects and creative choices often overshadowed the team's efforts. The first glimpse of ‘Ramayana’ had also attracted criticism over its CGI-heavy presentation, with viewers questioning whether the film would capture the emotional depth and visual authenticity associated with the epic.

ALSO READ: ‘You won't find another Sita like her’: Dhanush backs Sai Pallavi amid ‘Ramayana’ casting trolls 

Sai Pallavi's casting as Sita also became a subject of online debate, while comparisons between Ranbir and Arun Govil, who famously portrayed Rama in Ramanand Sagar's television adaptation, added to the conversation.

Indira, however, believes audiences should have given the film an opportunity before forming opinions. She also pointed to the larger ambition behind the project, which aims to take the Indian epic to an international audience.

“Before trolling, one must understand that we attempted to bring Indian cinema on a global platform with this film. Dhurandhar also went through its own share of trolling but it emerged as a big success. But I wouldn’t want to compare Ramayana to any other film. It’s immaculate and spectacular. We’re so happy that we could create something like this for the world audience,” she said.

Ranbir Kapoor recommended Indira Krishnan for ‘Ramayana’

Indira also has a personal connection with Ranbir that goes beyond their on-screen relationship in ‘Ramayana’. The actor had previously revealed that it was Ranbir himself who recommended her for the role of Kaushalya.

Recalling how the casting conversation unfolded, Indira spoke about her experience working with Ranbir on ‘Animal’. On the last day of the film's shoot, Rashmika Mandanna had expressed her wish to work with Indira again, this time in a Telugu project, and suggested that she play her mother once more.

ALSO READ: ‘Ramayana’ box office day 9: Ranbir Kapoor, Yash film enters Rs 1,100 crore club, beats ‘Chhaava’ 

Ranbir then joined the conversation, telling her, “Why just hers? You can play my mom also.”

Indira said she immediately responded that she would play Ranbir's mother the next time. Looking back, she believes the exchange was almost a manifestation of what eventually came her way.

“I think I manifested this completely. I’m very thankful to Ranbir, who put in a good word for me to team Ramayana,” she said.

With ‘Ramayana: Part One’ now enjoying a strong theatrical run, Indira's recollections bring attention to the criticism the film and its cast encountered before release, as well as the faith the team placed in the project despite the noise surrounding it.