Actor Hrithik Roshan has responded to criticism over the visual effects of Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming epic Ramayana, describing it as “painful to watch” when the effects fall short.

The film, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Raavana, is planned as a grand two-part saga with a massive budget. Since the teaser’s release, it has generated intense discussion online, with some viewers praising the scale while others criticised the VFX, calling it reminiscent of a “video game.”

Speaking on Instagram, Hrithik urged audiences to judge the film only after its full release. “Yes, bad VFX exists. It's sometimes so bad it's painful to watch. Especially for me… and especially when it's a film I'm part of. As an 11-year-old kid, I saw Back to the Future on a trip to London, and it changed me forever. I became obsessed,” he wrote.

He explained that criticism should consider the intended style of the film. “Bad VFX is if the movie promises ‘photorealism’ but is unable to inhabit it fully. Even a small lapse in physics/gravity can then destroy the entire illusion. Or the promise is of storybook style, but they fail in making it beautiful enough or artistic enough or divine enough, and so fail to engage. But to say that the storybook style is not looking photorealistic – isn't fair. Cause it's not meant to be,” Hrithik said.

He added, “You can't criticise the maker just cause he has chosen one style while you prefer another style. That's not fair. So sometimes when you say ‘bad VFX,’ maybe it's just a style you didn't expect. So next time, don't just ask, ‘Is it real?’ First ask, ‘Is it right for the story?’ ‘Is it making me feel what the maker intended?’ Debate it. But debate it with awareness.”

Ramayana is set to release on Diwali 2026, with the second part scheduled for Diwali 2027. 

#From NDTV