Focus on Ram, Sita, scriptures: Salman Khan on Ramayana's Rs 4,000 crore buzz, VFX

Amid the conversation around the reported Rs 4,000 crore budget and visual effects in director Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, actor Salman Khan thinks that the epic goes beyond its cinematic scale. During the trailer launch of his upcoming film Maatrubhumi: May War Rest In Peace, Khan shared how people should shift the focus of the discussion to its story and not just the VFX or the budget.Speaking at the event hosted in Mumbai, Salman Khan shared, “I just think Ramayana ka charcha Ramayana pe hona chahiye na ki VFX and cost of production par (A film on Ramayana should not be seen just for the VFX or cost of production). I think this narrative ki 4000 (budget of Ramayana) aur VFX, VFX, VFX, I just don’t think ki that is correct (The narrative over Rs 4,000 crore budget or the VFX is not correct)."He added, “I just think ki Ramayana ka charcha Ramayana ke upar hi hona chahiye (The discussion should be around Ramayana) – Ram, Ravana, Sita, on the scriptures.""Ram ji ki kya qualities theen (What qualities did Lord Rama have)? Best husband, best father, the best warrior, the best son and best brother. Maatrubhumi me is character ke andar ye saari qualities hain (My character in Maatrubhumi has the same qualities)," he concluded while announcing that audiences above 75 years will only be charged Rs 11 per ticket. When India Today asked the actor whether he had watched Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, he simply responded with a smile.Ramayana: Rise of a Legend is based on sage Valmiki's ancient text, Ramayan and 16th century bhakti poet Goswami Tulsidas's epic poem, Ramcharitmanas. The film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, Yash as Ravana and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. India Today, in its review for the film, wrote, "Ranbir, initially, does make you wonder whether he will break out of the character at any moment and slip into the familiar mannerisms of Bunny from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. But that impression doesn't last. He finds a certain stillness in Rama, a calmness in his movements and a restraint in his expressions that work beautifully for the character. He doesn't overplay the emotional scenes, nor does he lose his energy when the action demands it. There is a quiet conviction to his portrayal, and that is the most important quality he brings to Rama."Ramayana: Rise of a Legend theatrically released on November 5, 2026.- Ends