A unique reason of praise for Ramayana: Part 1 has been Kunal Kapoor's performance in the film. The actor, who has a brief onscreen appearance as Indra, has beee receiving positive acclaim from viewers in Southeast Asia, especially Thailand.
Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Kunal wrote, "Indra. Phra In. Batara Indra. Thagyamin. Preah En. Taishakuten. One king of the heavens, known by different names across many lands. It’s incredible how much we have in common. I’ve been overwhelmed by the love pouring in for Lord Indra from India, from Thailand and across Southeast Asia, and from so many corners of the world I never expected to hear from."
He added, "Thank you, truly. I’ve always believed good stories have a way of connecting us all, and our cultures share more of them than we realise. It means the world to see a timeless epic like the Ramayana find so much love, everywhere. And to all the wonderful artists who have created such beautiful art, and continue to do so, thank you so much. I’m sorry I don’t know each of your handles, but I’ve seen your work and it means a lot."
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana: Part 1 features Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, and Sai Pallavi, as Rama, Ravana, and Sita, respectively. While the first part traces the origins of the epic clash between Rama and Ravana, a sequel is set to be released in 2027.