Ramayana Hits ₹800 cr as Addinath Defends Ravana Focus

Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana has crossed ₹800 crore in worldwide gross, yet the loudest debate is not about the box office. Some viewers have taken to calling the film Ravanayana because its opening stretch spends serious time establishing Yash’s Ravana. Addinath Kothare, who plays Bharat, says that is exactly how the story should unfold.

Villain first, hero after

In an exclusive conversation with India Today, the actor argued that a story cannot breathe unless the opposing force is clear. “Unless you establish the villain, the story doesn’t get established,” he said. He called the screenplay by Shridhar Raghavan and Nitesh Tiwari “a bible of storytelling.”

His logic is simple: audiences will only vouch for Ram when they understand what Ram is up against. The opening twenty minutes, he said, build Ravana so the story of why Vishnu’s avatar takes birth lands with full weight.

Yash’s Ravana leaves the cast in awe

Kothare did not hold back on Yash’s performance. He said the first 20–30 minutes keep you holding your breath, and added, “Yash was absolutely superb as Ravana.” He also credited casting director Mukesh Chhabra for assembling an ensemble that fits the epic’s world.

What the numbers say so far:

• Worldwide gross: over ₹800 crore
• India collection: inching closer to ₹600 crore
• Single-day mark: crossed ₹100 crore on Monday

Why the ‘Ravanayana’ tag matters

The nickname might sound like a jab, but it points to a classic storytelling principle: a hero is only as compelling as the obstacle he has to overcome. For Hindi film fans, the real question is not whether Ramayana centres Ravana too much—it is whether it gives Ram a worthy counterweight.

The numbers give the film room to breathe. A ₹100 crore single day is the kind of momentum that makes a debate over narrative balance a sign of engagement rather than a red flag. When fans argue about whether the opening belongs to Ram or Ravana, they are essentially arguing about how the myth should be retold—and that keeps the film in conversation long after the credits roll.

For the audience, there is a simple test: watch the opening stretch and ask whether Ravana’s establishment makes Ram’s later choices feel earned. Kothare’s answer is an emphatic yes, and the worldwide number suggests enough viewers are buying it.

The line Addinath took home

Beyond the spectacle, Kothare’s favourite takeaway is a line spoken by Ram near the end: “Ye jo mera bhaagya mujhe manya nahi, main mera bhaagya khud likhunga.” He translated it as refusing to accept one’s fate and choosing to write one’s own destiny. That idea, he said, mirrors what producer Namit Malhotra and director Nitesh Tiwari did with this film.

For the actor, the audience response is the real reward. “The audience response and appreciation is the ultimate pinnacle of satisfaction for any artist,” he said.

Source: India Today