The producer of 'Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha' claims a coordinated effort to sabotage its box office run, citing influencer-led smear campaigns ahead of Ranbir Kapoor’s larger Ramayana film.
The theatrical run of 'Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha' has ended in quiet underperformance, but the fallout is just beginning. Its producer, Prakash Mahobiya, has accused a sustained negative campaign targeting the film before and after release. According to him, YouTubers, influencers, and unnamed third parties spread misleading information, actively discouraging audiences from seeing it.
The film, directed by Abhishek Singh and starring Anjali Arora as Sita, opened on September 25 with little fanfare. It earned only ₹46 lakh globally, according to Sacnilk data — a figure that shows its commercial struggle. Critics pounced on casting choices, particularly Arora’s portrayal of Sita, and the VFX, while a poster showing a Vanar Sena warrior in spectacles became an internet meme.
But Mahobiya insists the real issue wasn’t the film’s quality. "They never got to see it," he told India Today. "If they never saw it, how can they judge?" He claims his team was informed that other films on the same subject, Nitesh Tiwari’s high-profile Ramayana starring Ranbir Kapoor. Were behind the push to discredit his project.
That film, backed by Namit Malhotra and Yash, is set for a Diwali 2026 release and reportedly budgeted at ₹4,000 crore. Its scale dwarfs Mahobiya’s production, making the alleged sabotage seem plausible to some observers. Yet Mahobiya stopped short of naming names, saying he wasn’t certain who orchestrated the campaign.
Despite the poor opening, the makers are now considering a re-release, though no date or format has been confirmed. The timing is tense: as 'Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha' fades from memory, the anticipation for Ranbir Kapoor’s version grows louder. Online chatter suggests a rivalry not just between two adaptations, but between two visions of the epic, one low-budget and independent, the other a cinematic event.
No official response has come from Tiwari, Malhotra, or any of the actors involved in the bigger film. But the allegations have already sparked debate: is this a case of competitive suppression, or simply the fate of a niche project in a crowded market?
One thing’s clear. The Ramayana isn’t just being retold. It’s being fought over.
Be the first to comment
Join the argument. No password, just your email or a passkey.