Sachdeva stays calm as Ramayana faces chatter
Actor Saurabh Sachdeva, who plays Maricha in Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part Ramayana, is not letting the online debate around the film’s trailer change how he sees the project. He told PTI the team knew a religious subject would stir stronger responses, and the criticism has not shaken him.
“It doesn’t affect me. Now, people have a forum or place to talk about, they can say anything,” Sachdeva said. “Here definitely our belief is also connected… religious sentiment is there, that is what is a little fragile.”
The trailer has been criticised over visual effects and casting, including Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Ram. Kapoor stars as Ram, with Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. Sachdeva said what he saw while dubbing convinced him the film is well-made, and that nothing was added just for effect.
Why a religious epic carries built-in scrutiny
Ramayana is billed as an ambitious global-scale adaptation of the Indian epic, so it arrives with both huge expectations and a deep emotional footprint. Sachdeva argues that because religious belief is connected, people tend to respond strongly and speak out.
He also credited Nitesh Tiwari’s relaxed direction for keeping the set steady. The Dangal filmmaker is, in Sachdeva’s words, a calm and soft-spoken presence who does not agitate, and that calm was contagious.
His own character, Maricha, sits in a grey zone. Sachdeva described him as someone on the villain side but always in a dilemma about where to stand.
Release plan, and why it matters
- Part one opens worldwide on November 5, 2026.
- It will release in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
- Part two is expected around Diwali 2027.
The film is produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. For fans, the release is when the online argument meets the actual screen: a five-language opening will test whether the emotional core travels beyond the trailer.
Sachdeva, whose credits include Animal and Pushpa 2: The Rule, hopes the role brings him more work and even recognition from Hollywood. The immediate question is simpler: will the craft match the scale when the lights go down?
Source: Hindustan Times