Rocking Star Yash, who is gearing up for the August 26 release of Toxic, is also in the news for his other film, Ramayana. The actor has finally addressed the much-discussed ₹4,000 crore budget of the film, which he also co-produces. Speaking on Aap Ki Adalat with Rajat Sharma, the actor said the amount is not limited to the film’s production cost but also includes the global marketing and release plans for the two-part epic.
Asked about the reported budget, Yash said the figure should not be viewed as the cost of making the film alone. “The film is being planned as a global project from the beginning. The cost also includes the kind of international release and promotion being planned for it,” he explained.
Yash pointed out that Hollywood projects often factor global marketing into the overall budget, particularly when a film is designed for a worldwide theatrical release. He also said both Ramayana and his upcoming Kannada film Toxic are being planned with a global audience in mind.
The actor was asked about the challenge of adapting the Ramayana, a story that audiences across India already know well. Yash said familiarity with the epic does not mean everyone has the same image of its characters.
“I grew up listening to the Ramayana from my grandfather. Later, I watched its television serial and film adaptations. Everyone has their own understanding of the story,” he said.
For Yash, the bigger challenge is to balance the entertainment expected from a big-screen adaptation with the religious and cultural values attached to the epic. He added that his co-producer Namit Malhotra is working hard to present the story on a scale that matches its stature.
Yash also explained why he chose to play Ravan instead of Lord Ram. According to him, Ram’s strength and goodness can only have the desired impact if Ravan is presented as a formidable opponent.
“The audience should feel, ‘How can anyone defeat him? He has everything and all the boons.’ That is the Ravana we need to create before Lord Rama defeats him,” he said.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Yash as Ravan. DNEG is handling the VFX. Ramayana: Part 1 is scheduled to release overseas on November 6 and in India on November 8, with Part 2 planned for Diwali 2027.
