I came out in tears: Mahesh Bhatt gets emotional after watching Ramayana

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has revealed why he chose not to attend the premiere of Ramayana, starring his son-in-law Ranbir Kapoor. Despite being absent from the star-studded event, Bhatt watched the film in a cinema hall, where he experienced the epic alongside other moviegoers. He opened up about his decision, his emotional response to the film and his appreciation for director Nitesh Tiwari and the cast.Bhatt said he wanted to watch the film in a regular cinema setting rather than at a premiere. He felt that sharing the experience with strangers would make his viewing more personal and genuine."I wanted to sit in a cinema hall among strangers and have that private, shared experience of watching a film," he told Variety India.The filmmaker also recalled his childhood memories of the Ramayan. He said his first introduction to the epic came through his mother, who would narrate the story to him and his siblings. "Before I saw Rama on a screen, I knew him through my mother's voice," he recalled, adding that he was too young to understand every aspect of the story but its characters and emotions stayed with him.Bhatt also remembered watching Sampoorna Ramayana, directed by Babubhai Mistry, when he was 12. One particular moment left a lasting impression on him – Sita asking Mother Earth to take her back after being banished from Ayodhya. He said he had cried during the scene and continued to feel the injustice of what Sita went through.Mahesh Bhatt on Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi's performancesSharing his thoughts on the new adaptation, Bhatt praised Yash's portrayal of Ravana, saying the actor had left him mesmerised. He also credited Tiwari with keeping the character's powerful presence under control.Talking about Ranbir's performance as Lord Rama, Bhatt said the film took a different turn for him when the actor walked towards the camera and folded his hands. He felt Ranbir had tapped into an aspect of himself that his earlier performances had not demanded."I saw him touch something in himself that his other films had never asked him to. I felt he had touched the God in him," he said.Bhatt also had words of appreciation for Sai Pallavi's portrayal of Sita. He felt the actor brought a certain simplicity to the character instead of relying on an elaborate or glamorous presentation."Sai Pallavi's Sita brought me such relief," he said, adding that he believed in the love and devotion shared by Rama and Sita in the film.He also praised Arun Govil's performance and Anupam Kher's portrayal of Jatayu.READ RAMAYANA REVIEW HEREMahesh Bhatt gets emotional while watching RamayanaThe filmmaker admitted that the film's depiction of Rama's 14-year exile moved him deeply. He recalled struggling to hold back his tears during the scene, particularly because he was watching the film with a group of young filmmakers and writers who knew him as Ranbir Kapoor's father-in-law.He said he was unable to hide his emotions when the end credits rolled and the lights came on.Bhatt was equally moved by the sequence in which Bharat visits Rama and requests him to return to Ayodhya. He recalled feeling heartbroken when Bharat leaves carrying Rama's khadaun (wooden sandals), promising to rule the kingdom in his brother's name.The filmmaker said the moment reminded him of values that society once held dear and how distant people sometimes seem from them today.He also spoke about the film's climax, particularly the moment Hanuman's arrival is hinted at. Bhatt recalled how the audience broke into applause, adding that he left the cinema deeply moved.Praising everyone involved in the project, he raised a toast to Tiwari, producer Namit Malhotra, the writers, composers, actors and the crew for bringing the epic to the screen. He said the film made him feel proud of Indian cinema.Bhatt also had a personal message for the director. He said he wanted Tiwari to know that the story he had first heard through his mother's voice had now reached him through the filmmaker's vision."I walked into that theatre carrying the boy who had wept for Sita. I came out with tears in my eyes again," he said.Ramayana is a two-part cinematic adaptation of the ancient Indian epic, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra and Yash. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi portrays Sita, while Yash essays Ravana. Ravie Dubey plays Lakshman. The project features music by Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman and brings the story of Lord Rama's journey to rescue Sita from Ravana to the big screen.- Ends