Nitesh Tiwari's ₹4,000 Crore Ramayana Trailer Turns Into a Casting Row Over How Ram, Sita and Shurpanakha Should Look The trailer of Nitesh Tiwari's ₹4,000 crore film Ramayana has triggered a social media storm over the casting and looks of Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha, Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Yash as Ravana and Sai Pallavi as Sita. The trailer of director Nitesh Tiwari's big-budget project Ramayana, said to be made on a reported budget of ₹4,000 crore, has set off a storm of casting debates within hours of its release, with viewers picking apart nearly every major character's look. Rakul Preet Singh's Shurpanakha Becomes Meme Fodder The sharpest reaction has centred on Rakul Preet Singh, whose glamorous styling as Shurpanakha has been turned into memes across social media, with many users arguing the character was never meant to look the way she has been presented in the trailer. Ranbir Kapoor's Ram and Yash's Ravana Draw Contrasting Reactions Ranbir Kapoor's casting as Ram has also drawn questions from viewers. By contrast, reactions to Yash playing Ravana have leaned positive, even as opinion remains split on Ranbir's portrayal. Attention has now shifted to Sunny Deol, who is expected to appear as Hanuman, with fans waiting to see how the actor has been styled for the role. Sai Pallavi's Sita Splits the Internet Sai Pallavi's casting as Sita has proved equally divisive, with a fresh round of debate breaking out over her looks in the role. A section of social media users has argued that other actresses would have suited the part of Sita better than Sai Pallavi. An Older Leaked Clip Had Already Fuelled Speculation The trailer isn't the first time the film has triggered online arguments. A clip said to be leaked earlier and showing Ram aiming an arrow at the clouds had already gone viral, with fans divided over whether the footage was genuine or AI generated. So What Did These Characters Actually Look Like Amid the row over glamorous styling versus traditional imagination, the more fundamental question being asked is how Ram, Sita, Ravana and Shurpanakha were actually described in the first place. The search for that answer points back to the Valmiki Ramayana, considered the most authoritative source on the epic, as well as centuries of ancient sculpture and classical paintings that have shaped how Indians have pictured these characters long before any film adaptation. What this means for you • For moviegoers and fans: With a reported ₹4,000 crore budget on the line, the online debate over how Ram, Sita, Ravana and Shurpanakha have been styled will likely keep shaping expectations and buzz ahead of the film's release. Questions & Answers 1. What is the controversy around the Ramayana trailer about? Social media users are debating whether the film's cast, especially Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha, Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Yash as Ravana and Sai Pallavi as Sita, matches how these characters have traditionally been imagined. 2. Why is Rakul Preet Singh's look as Shurpanakha being criticised? Users have made memes mocking her glamorous styling as Shurpanakha, arguing it doesn't match the character's traditional depiction. 3. What is the reported budget of Ramayana? The film is reported to have been made on a budget of around ₹4,000 crore. 4. How have fans reacted to Yash and Ranbir Kapoor's casting? Reactions to Yash as Ravana have mostly been positive, while opinion on Ranbir Kapoor's Ram remains mixed. 5. Who is playing Hanuman in the film? Sunny Deol is expected to play Hanuman, and fans are waiting to see his look in the role. 6. Has the film been at the centre of controversy before this trailer? Yes, an earlier leaked clip showing Ram aiming an arrow at the clouds had gone viral, with fans divided over whether it was real footage or AI generated. 7. What do people think about Sai Pallavi's casting as Sita? Opinion is split, with some users suggesting other actresses would have suited the role of Sita better. 8. What is being used to judge how these characters actually looked? The debate points back to the Valmiki Ramayana, considered the most authoritative source, along with ancient sculptures and traditional paintings depicting these characters. https://trendkia.com/en/investigations/nitesh-tiwari-ki-4-000-karora-ki-ramayana-trelara-para-ram-sita-aura-shurpanakha-ke-luka-ko-lekara-macha-bavala-12572 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.