Hyderabad — Actor Yash has drawn significant criticism on social media following a promotional event where he asked audiences to approach the upcoming epic Ramayana with an open mind and overlook any minor visual effects shortcomings.
Speaking about the ambitious two-part project directed by Nitesh Tiwari, in which he stars as Ravana, Yash praised producer Namit Malhotra for financial and reputational risks taken to bring the movie to a global platform. The actor cautioned against nitpicking small visual faults, warning that discouraging key backers could set Indian cinema back years.
During the event, Yash appealed to fans across the Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi film industries to unite if they enjoy the movie and showcase it to the world. He also urged viewers to protect Malhotra, describing the producer's dedication and noting that Malhotra had left successful business ventures in Los Angeles to elevate Indian cinema onto the international stage.
Despite the passionate appeal, the remarks sparked a backlash online from viewers who questioned why they should lower their expectations for a high-budget theatrical release. Social media users pointed out that modern audiences regularly consume high-caliber international content on streaming platforms and argued that the responsibility for delivering world-class quality rests with the creators rather than the ticket-paying public.
Critics also used sarcasm to push back against the suggestion to ignore technical flaws, with some questioning the logic of paying standard ticket prices without retaining the right to critique the final product. Others suggested that requesting leniency signaled a lack of confidence in the project's content and cautioned against using nationalist appeals to deflect potential criticism.
Ramayana: Rise of a Legend is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 5.