Look, the internet is doing that thing again. You know the one. A trailer drops, everyone watches it on a five-inch phone screen, and suddenly everyone is a world-class VFX supervisor. When the first look at Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana hit the web on 2 April 2026, the knives came out fast. People were calling it a “glorified video game” or an “expensive Chhota Bheem”. And it became a sort of blood bath on social media. But then Hrithik Roshan stepped in, and he didn’t just provide a PR quote.
In reality, he was telling the audience to get over themselves and learn how to actually look at a film. Hrithik Roshan defends “Ramayana” VFX amid criticism because he’s been in the trenches of big-budget tech-heavy films for twenty years. He knows that “real” isn’t always the goal. If you’ve seen Krrish or even the more recent Fighter, you know he understands the sweat that goes into these pixels. His take? This isn’t a mistake. It’s a choice. And with a budget that’s reportedly sitting around ₹4,000 crore, you’d hope the choices were deliberate.
Ramayana Trivia
- It’s Art, Not a Photo: The film is leaning into a “storybook” vibe, not trying to look like a National Geographic documentary.
- The Money is Massive: We’re talking ₹4,000 crore here. That’s enough to make anyone’s eyes water.
- Hrithik’s Logic: He wants you to ask if the visuals fit the story’s “soul”, rather than just checking if the hair looks real.
- The Dream Team: Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman on music, with DNEG handling the heavy lifting on the renders.
Why Everyone is Losing Their Minds
The Ramayana teaser was supposed to be a “drop the mic” moment for Indian cinema. With Ranbir Kapoor as Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita, the hype was almost too much to handle. But the second the “divine” world appeared on screen, the mood shifted. A lot of fans in India felt the visuals looked a bit too much like animation. It didn’t have that “weight” people expected from a live-action epic.
By the evening of 2 April, “Bad VFX” was trending. It’s a tough spot for Tiwari. On one hand, you’re making the most sacred story in Indian history. On the other hand, you’re trying to use tech that costs more than some small countries’ GDP. According to a piece in Hindustan Times, the backlash was almost instant. It felt like the film was being written off before it even had a chance to breathe.
Hrithik’s “Storybook” Argument
And then two days later, Hrithik Roshan went on to Instagram and essentially turned the tables. He did not simply defend the film; he assailed how we watch movies. He wondered if perhaps we’re all a little too hung up on “photorealism.” He used an interesting comparison—animation. You don’t go to a Pixar movie and argue that the people in it don’t look like real humans, right?
He thinks Ramayana is aiming for a “divine” or “mythic” style. It’s meant to look like a painting brought to life. If the forest looks a bit too green or the sky a bit too golden, that’s because it’s a world of gods, not a hike in Mahabaleshwar. As The Economic Times reported, he’s asking us to look for “emotional intent.” Does the scene make you feel the weight of Ram’s exile? If yes, then the VFX did its job.
Hrithik Roshan defends “Ramayana” VFX
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The money. ₹4,000 crore. That is an insane amount of cash to put behind a “style” that might not land with the masses. Namit Malhotra and his team at DNEG aren’t exactly amateurs—they’ve got Oscars on their shelves for Dune and Inception. They know what they’re doing. The fact that Hrithik Roshan defends “Ramayana” VFX amid criticism is important because he’s calling out the bravery of the makers.
It’s so much easier to make a gritty, brown-and-grey “real” movie that feels safe. It’s a lot more difficult for someone to attempt and find some visual language that reminds you of ancient Indian art.’ Whether it succeeds or not is another question, but you have to hand it to the sheer guts required to spend that sort of money on a vision so divisive.
What Happens Next?
The movie isn’t coming out until Diwali 2026. That’s several months away. In the world of VFX, a few months is a lifetime. They’re probably working 20-hour shifts right now to polish the renders. But the core “look” won’t change. This isn’t Sonic the Hedgehog where they’re going to redesign the whole character because of a few tweets. The casting is still the strongest thing going for it. Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash as Ravana, and even Sunny Deol as Hanuman.
That is a powerhouse lineup. If the story is told well, if the music from Zimmer and Rahman hits the right notes, the VFX might just become secondary. People tend to forget about dodgy CGI if they’re crying by the interval.
Also Read: Easy Kitchen Tips To Master How To Cook Poha On Induction Without Drying It Out
FAQ
Is the VFX of Ramayan actually bad?
“Bad” is the wrong word. It’s stylised. Think of it like an oil painting vs. a photograph. Some people hate the “soft” look, while others think it fits a mythological story.
Why is Hrithik Roshan involved?
He’s not in the film, but he’s a huge supporter of technical innovation in India. He’s also worked with DNEG before and probably felt the criticism was a bit unfair to the artists.
Who is the director of Ramayana?
Nitesh Tiwari. The man who gave us Dangal. He’s not exactly known for making “cheap-looking” films, so most industry insiders are giving him the benefit of the doubt.
When can we see the full movie?
Part One is scheduled for Diwali 2026. Part Two will likely follow a year later in 2027.
Is it the most expensive Indian movie ever?
Pretty much. With a total budget reaching ₹4,000 crore for the saga, it’s in a league of its own. Eve Livemint has highlighted the massive financial stakes here.
Closing Thoughts
At the end of the day, we’ve only seen two minutes of a massive project. Jumping to conclusions now is like judging a 500-page book by its cover art. Hrithik’s point is that we should respect the attempt to do something different. India has been making the same-looking movies for a while; maybe a “divine storybook” is exactly what we need to break the mould. We will all know this Diwali.
Either Tiwari is a visionary who revolutionised Indian filmmaking, or the memes were correct all along. Some are inclined to trust the person who directed Dangal, but hey, people have been wrong before. Are you going to give it a chance, or has the teaser already put you off? Catch you in the cinema. Or on X, complaining. Probably both.
References and Sources
The following credible sources and reports from April 2026 were used to compile the information regarding the Ramayana VFX debate and Hrithik Roshan’s public stance.
Sources and References
- The Economic Times (Panache): “After Ramayana teaser backlash, Hrithik Roshan tells audiences to ask two big questions instead of just saying ‘bad VFX’” (Published: 5 April 2026). This source details Hrithik’s specific Instagram post and his “two questions” framework for evaluating visual styles.
- The Times of India: “Hrithik Roshan defends Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana amid ‘bad VFX’ debate: ‘Maybe it’s just a style you didn’t expect?’” (Updated: 4 April 2026). Covers the technical breakdown of “photorealism” versus “storybook” styles mentioned by the actor.
- ET Now: “Ramayana Movie 2026 Teaser: Ranbir Kapoor’s regal first look as Lord Rama stuns, Rs 4,000 crore epic with AR Rahman–Hans Zimmer aims to become India’s biggest global film” (Published: 2 April 2026). Provides the financial context, including the record-breaking ₹4,000 crore (approx. $500 million) budget.
- Hindustan Times: “Hrithik Roshan talks about ‘bad VFX’ in films amid mixed reactions to Ramayana glimpse” (Updated: 5 April 2026). Highlights the social media trend and the initial fan comparisons to video games and animation.
- VFX Studio: DNEG (Double Negative) — Multi-Oscar-winning studio led by Namit Malhotra.
