Subhash Ghai backs Nitesh Tiwari, says good storytelling will drive Ramayana

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai is looking forward to Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, saying the upcoming film has the right ingredients in its director and cast. He backed the director’s storytelling instincts and praised lead actor Ranbir Kapoor as a good performer. Speaking at India Today Conclave Mumbai 2026 on October 10, Ghai, who was accompanied by his daughter Meghana Ghai Puri, also explained why a film’s success ultimately rests on the people telling the story, even as technology reshapes the way cinema is made. For him, AI may change the process, but a good storyteller remains irreplaceable.Speaking at a session titled AI, OTT and the New Rules of Storytelling, Ghai said he expected a lot from Ramayana, which brings the epic to the big screen with the backing of a large production team.“Content will always remain the king. We are expecting a lot from the upcoming Ramayana, because it is made by a good director and a good storyteller, despite the big budget and big-hearted people,” he said.The upcoming film, directed by Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi and Sita, and Yash as Raavan. Lara Dutta, Sunny Deol, Vivek Oberoi, Kajal Aggarwal, and others star in important roles. The film is scheduled to hit theatres in two parts, with the first releasing on the occasion of Diwali 2026. Ghai also spoke about Ranbir and Alia Bhatt's craft, praising both actors. He singled out Anil Kapoor for his work ethic, saying the actor remains hardworking even today.Subhash Ghai on storytelling in the age of AIFor Ghai, the arrival of artificial intelligence doesn't change the fundamentals of storytelling. The medium may evolve, but the emotions at the heart of a story must remain intact. “Whatever technology may come, it will always need a good director, a storyteller. That will always be there for 200 years,” he said, explaining that a writer tells a story through the pen while a director writes through the camera.Using the Ramayana and the Mahabharata as examples, Ghai pointed out that the epics have been retold for thousands of years, moving from stage performances and Ramleela to cinema, television and now technology-driven productions.“You will not turn Ram into Ravan in Ramayana. The story will remain the same, the emotions will remain the same. Those cannot change,” he said.Ghai also encouraged young filmmakers to learn AI as quickly as possible, arguing that the technology could make filmmaking more accessible. Films that once cost Rs 100 crore to make might eventually be produced for Rs 10 crore with the help of AI, he suggested.Meghana Ghai Puri on carrying forward his legacyGhai's daughter, Meghana, who also attended the session, spoke about the challenges of carrying forward her father's vision and legacy."Nothing great can be achieved without it being difficult or tough," she said, recalling how his dream of building something in Mumbai initially seemed impossible to the family.Meghana said she had always known her father as a teacher at heart, someone who had launched not just actors but also music directors and composers.She described carrying his vision forward as both a privilege and a responsibility to the film industry. "I take it as my good fortune and as a responsibility that I shoulder on his behalf and on behalf of our industry," she said.One of Hindi cinema’s most recognisable filmmakers, Subhash Ghai is known for directing popular films such as Karz, Hero, Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak, Pardes and Taal. Often credited with shaping the grand, music-driven Hindi film spectacle, he has also mentored talent through his film school, Whistling Woods International.- Ends