3 weeks ago
Ranbir Kapoor hits back at CG critics over Ramayana VFX
A famous actor named Ranbir Kapoor is making a big movie about an old Indian story called Ramayana.
When the trailer came out, many people online said the special effects, called CGI, did not look good.
Ranbir says people have become 'CG critics' because they now know more about how movies are made.
He says people who don't know how CGI works think the artists just used some AI and quickly released the footage.
But the film team says artists worked for years on the effects, even trying to get the colour of the sky right.
The producer says many people watch the trailer on small phones with bad internet instead of on huge cinema screens.
He says the movie is made for big IMAX screens, and some people changed their minds after seeing it in IMAX 3D.
The director says the movie is still being finished, and some effects took two and a half to three years to make.
The first part of the movie comes out during Diwali in 2026, and the second part comes out in 2027.
Ranbir Kapoor responded to online criticism of the Ramayana teaser's visual effects, saying audiences have become 'CG critics' with the rise of AI.
Speaking to Collider at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, Kapoor said people who don't know how CG is made think 'someone's just used some AI and released something.'
Producer Namit Malhotra said the film is designed for the big-screen IMAX experience and that judging the trailer on a phone with a poor internet connection gives an inaccurate impression.
Director Nitesh Tiwari said Part One's edit is locked, while some VFX sequences took two-and-a-half to three years and finishing touches are still underway.
Ramayana: Part One releases worldwide on November 6, 2026, targeting Diwali (November 8) in India, with a sequel in 2027; DNEG calls it its most challenging project.
- Who
- Actor Ranbir Kapoor (Lord Rama), director Nitesh Tiwari, and producer Namit Malhotra of the two-part Ramayana film; Kapoor spoke to Collider's Steven Weintraub at San Diego Comic-Con 2026.
- What
- The film team responded to online criticism of the teaser's visual effects, urging audiences to judge the VFX on big screens rather than on phones.
- Where
- San Diego Comic-Con; the film is set for a worldwide theatrical release on around 59,000 screens.
- When
- The interview took place at San Diego Comic-Con 2026; Part One releases worldwide on November 6, 2026, targeting Diwali (November 8) in India, with the sequel in 2027.
- Why
- Kapoor said the rise of AI and growing familiarity with VFX have made audiences into 'CG critics' who judge unfinished trailer footage on phones with poor connections.
Online CG Critics
Film's Cast and Crew
Quality of Trailer VFX
Online CG Critics
Many online viewers critiqued the teaser's visual effects, saying the CGI is not good enough or looks unfinished.
Film's Cast and Crew
Kapoor and Malhotra say critics judge without understanding the years of VFX work, and the film is still in production and post-production; Tiwari added that when someone is 'hellbent on nitpicking, your best effort will be ignored, and your smallest mistake will be amplified.'
How to Judge the VFX
Online CG Critics
Critics judge trailer footage on phones, often with poor internet connections, where flaws are easily noticed.
Film's Cast and Crew
The film is designed for the big-screen IMAX experience; Malhotra says conversations changed after people watched the footage on an IMAX 3D screen, and he cited Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey as another film best seen on 70mm IMAX.
Role of AI in Visual Effects
Online CG Critics
Some viewers think AI tools can easily produce the effects seen in the teaser.
Film's Cast and Crew
Kapoor says people who don't know how CG is made think 'someone's just used some AI and released something,' when in fact artists worked for years on details like the colour of the sky.
Key facts
- Film
- Ramayana: Part One (two-part epic)
- Director
- Nitesh Tiwari
- Producer
- Namit Malhotra
- Lead Cast
- Ranbir Kapoor (Rama), Sai Pallavi (Sita), Yash (Ravana), Sunny Deol (Hanuman), Ravi Dubey (Lakshman)
- VFX Studio
- DNEG, owned by Prime Focus, with eight Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects
- Release
- November 6, 2026 worldwide via Sony Pictures International; Diwali (November 8) targeted in India; sequel in 2027
- VFX Time
- Some sequences took 2.5 to 3 years to complete
- Screens
- First Indian film to release on around 59,000 screens
Quotes
Namit Malhotra
Producer of "Ramayana: Part 1"
“It’s quite funny sometimes because people who don’t know CG is done, they think someone has just some AI and released something. There are countless hours of work where artists are working for years. I’ve seen Nitesh and Namit sit on VFX calls ever since this project started, trying to get even the colour of the sky right. I think it’s tricky right now to impress the audience with authentic CG.”
indianexpress.com
“They’re judging the film in not a great condition. Here we are spending millions and millions of dollars to try and make something for that big‑screen experience that we’ve been patiently waiting to bring to you. And then you’re judging it on a phone with a not great internet connection, and saying, ‘It’s not good enough.’”
telegraphindia.com
indianexpress.com
Sources
'Quite Funny...': Ranbir Kapoor SLAMS 'CGI Critics' Over Ramayana VFX Criticism, Namit Malhotra Says People Are Judging Visuals On Phones
‘People online have become CGI critics’: Ranbir Kapoor on ‘Ramayana’ VFX criticism







