Pictures of Ranbir Kapoor in full Lord Rama getup from the sets of Ramayana were published online on Monday, touching off a fresh round of debate about the film’s aesthetics and whether this mega-project has learned its lessons from earlier mythological flops. The images, first circulated by entertainment channels, show the actor in traditional attire with a visible wig and social media response was immediate and mixed.
The frames released appear to be candid, taken as the actor left the set and made his way back to the vanity area, with crew and vehicles visible in the background. In the photos, Ranbir Kapoor wears a kesariya dhoti, a janeu and a dark cape over a bare torso; his long hair is clearly supported by a wig. Netizens zeroed in on that wig, with many asking why a reportedly massive production hadn’t sorted a more convincing hairpiece for such a culturally charged role.
The two-part saga has been billed as India’s most expensive cinematic gamble producer Namit Malhotra and others have floated figures that put the combined budget in the multi-hundred-million-dollar range, numbers that only raise expectations for every visible detail. For some viewers, the leaked photos reopened the wound left by Om Raut’s Adipurush (2023), whose glossy but criticized visuals remain a cautionary tale for filmmakers retelling religious epics. Online critics were quick to draw the comparison: “If you’re spending big, you need to get the basics like hair right,”
There’s a larger production picture behind a single still. The Ramayana project directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Prime Focus Studio has publicly tied itself to world-class VFX houses and an international music collaboration, and the team has been working through extensive post-production schedules. In recent weeks the filmmakers have reportedly locked the edit for Part One and completed a first round of visual effects, signalling that what audiences saw in candid set photos is far from the final onscreen look.
Alongside Ranbir Kapoor, the cast includes Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana. The production has touted a music collaboration between A. R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer, and VFX work handled by studios with global credits. The makers aim for a Diwali-timed theatrical bow for Part One later this year.
The viral reaction to a candid set image currently develops online but the actual situation extends beyond the wig. The production currently undergoes public assessment of its complete technical work while dealing with an extensive film project.
