With Ramayana releasing worldwide on November 5, its leading men are answering a question that now follows every big-canvas Hindi film: where does artificial intelligence fit in filmmaking, and where should it stop?
AI as a tool, not the artist
During a promotional interview with BBC News, Ranbir Kapoor drew a clear line. He described AI as a production tool, in the same category as visual effects or a camera lens, but said it cannot carry what cinema does at its core.
“Art is always more personal when there is a human touch to it.”
Ranbir added that storytelling and performing art are the medium’s foundation, and he does not believe AI can replace that human element. Yash, who plays Ravana in the film, took the conversation a step further. He said filmmakers must be responsible and cautious about where the technology is applied, because people are at the centre of the process.
Why the timing matters
The comments land just as Ramayana’s teaser has put VFX and world-building under fan scrutiny. Some viewers have praised the scale; others have questioned the visual choices. Rather than treating the conversation as a binary, Ranbir and Yash are making a useful distinction: technology can raise the ceiling of what a film looks like, but the audience still connects with performance, emotion and a point of view.
For a two-part adaptation of the Indian epic, that distinction is not academic. It is the difference between spectacle that supports a performance and spectacle that replaces it.
The film and the noise around it
Ranbir also addressed the criticism Ramayana has received over its VFX and music. Speaking at an India International Movement to Unite Nations event, he quoted the old Hindi film line “Kuchh to log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna,” and said it remains a useful philosophy: don’t be bothered by every voice, and focus on the people who care about your work, intention and kindness.
- Ranbir Kapoor sees AI as a tool, like VFX or camera lenses, not a substitute for human storytelling.
- Yash wants responsible, cautious use of AI because people are central to filmmaking.
- Ramayana Part 1 releases worldwide on November 5, 2026; Part 2 is expected around Diwali 2027.
What to watch for
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The first part arrives in cinemas worldwide on November 5, 2026. The second is being looked at for Diwali 2027.
For fans, the proof will be in the finished spectacle — whether the film’s AI-assisted craft still lands with a human heartbeat.
Source: Hindustan Times