Hrithik Roshan Shares Honest Take On Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana VFX Amid Ongoing Reactions: They’ve The Guts…

Hrithik Roshan has weighed in on the Ramayana VFX backlash, urging audiences to judge visual effects by how well they serve the story rather than by realism alone. The actor shared a long Instagram note, saying viewers should first ask whether the chosen style suits the narrative before calling the work “bad VFX”.

The debate erupted after the Ramayana teaser released online, with social media sharply divided. While anticipation for the film remains high, many users criticised certain CGI-heavy shots. Some said that parts of the teaser looked like a “video game”, despite the film being promoted as a major step for Indian VFX-driven cinema.

Ramayana VFX backlash and Hrithik Roshan’s wider view on visual effects

In his note, Hrithik Roshan stressed that not every film is aiming for the same visual texture. For Hrithik Roshan, the key question is whether the visual style matches the director’s intention. He argued that criticism should engage with the film’s chosen approach, instead of expecting one fixed standard of photorealism for all projects.

Hrithik Roshan openly admitted that poorly executed CGI can be very hard to watch, especially for someone who works closely with it. "Yes bad VFX exists. It's sometimes so bad it's painful to watch. Especially for me… and especially when it's a film I'm part of," he wrote, acknowledging the frustration when technical work falls short.

Ramayana VFX backlash linked to expectations of realism and style

The actor then broke down how different visual goals demand different yardsticks. "Bad vfx is if the movie promises say 'photorealism' but is unable to inhabit it fully. Even a small lapse in physics/gravity can then destroy the entire illusion. Or the promise is of storybook style but they fail in making it beautiful enough or artistic enough or divine enough and so fails to engage. But to say that the storybook style is not looking photorealistic – isn't fair. Cause it's not meant to be."

Hrithik Roshan also warned against dismissing work simply because a viewer personally prefers another look. "AND you can't criticize the maker just cause he has chosen one stvle while vou prefer another style. Thats not fair. So sometimes when you say "bad VFX." Maybe it's just a style you didn't expect? So next time don't just ask, "Is it real?" First ask, "Is it right for the story?" "is it making me feel what the maker intended?" Debate it. But debate it with awareness."

Hrithik Roshan recalls early VFX inspiration amid Ramayana VFX backlash

To explain why this debate matters, Hrithik Roshan revisited an early memory that shaped his love for special effects. At 11, in London, Hrithik Roshan watched Back to the Future, and the film deeply affected that young viewer. The experience triggered an obsession with how such images are created and sustained on screen.

Hrithik Roshan wrote that the fascination continued at home in Mumbai. "I became obsessed. I would sit with my dads VHS player studying the frames pause -play pause-play until I broke the player. I ordered a book "industrial light and Magic" The Art of Special Effects" from Reader's Digest with my pocket money…and waited months for it to arrive at the Juhu post office. Happiest day of my life. I can still smell the book as I unwrapped it. Many others followed."

Filmmakers behind Ramayana VFX backlash praised for risk and ambition

Using that childhood story, Hrithik Roshan extended admiration to filmmakers attempting large-scale visual storytelling in India. Hrithik Roshan highlighted films such as Kalki, Bahubali and Ramayana, as well as Rakesh Roshan’s work on Koi Mil Gaya and Krrish, as examples of projects that attempt something new in mainstream cinema, despite financial and creative risks.

Praising those efforts, Hrithik Roshan wrote, "Today some special humans among us, like the makers of films like Kalki, Bahubali, Ramayana (also my dad for koi mil gaya n krrish ofcourse) are my heroes, they have the guts and vision to do what's never been done all for the love of cinema so that we the audience get to experience something never watched before. From mv point of view they risked all that money, and years and years of effort just so another 11yr old kid could feel what I felt."

Star cast details as Ramayana VFX backlash continues online

Amid the Ramayana VFX backlash, interest in the film’s cast remains strong. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part adaptation, while Sai Pallavi appears as Sita. Yash takes on the role of Ravana, Sunny Deol portrays Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey features as Lakshman in the mythological saga.

The ensemble extends further, with Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari and Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha. Arun Govil, Kunal Kapoor, Adinath Kothare, Sheeba Chaddha and Indira Krishnan also join the project. Earlier, a glimpse of Ranbir Kapoor’s Rama look was showcased in Los Angeles, where Ranbir Kapoor also thanked a fan who gifted an Ayodhya Ram Mandir-inspired jacket.

The teaser that triggered the Ramayana VFX backlash had already drawn attention when Hrithik Roshan reportedly reacted with an “Oh My God” to Ranbir Kapoor’s appearance as Lord Ram. The first part of the film is planned for a theatrical release on Diwali, with the second instalment expected to arrive in cinemas on Diwali 2027, keeping the spotlight on both its storytelling and visual choices for years ahead.