Subhash Ghai: Ramayana’s Story and Director Matter More Than AI

At India Today Conclave Mumbai 2026 on October 10, Subhash Ghai made a case that has kept Hindi cinema’s biggest spectacles working for decades: the story and the storyteller still come first. Speaking in a session on AI, OTT and the new rules of storytelling, the filmmaker said he is expecting a lot from Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana because it has the right director and cast behind it.

“Content will always remain the king,” Ghai said, adding that the epic has “a good director and a good storyteller, despite the big budget and big-hearted people.”

Why he is optimistic about Ramayana

The two-part adaptation stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Raavan, with Lara Dutta, Sunny Deol, Vivek Oberoi and Kajal Aggarwal in important roles. Directed by Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, it is scheduled to open in two parts, with the first arriving around Diwali 2026.

Ghai singled out Ranbir Kapoor as a good performer and also praised Ranbir and Alia Bhatt’s craft. He reserved a separate word for Anil Kapoor, whose work ethic, he said, remains intact even today.

Technology changes, the storyteller stays

Ghai’s larger argument was that AI and other tools may alter how films are made, but they cannot replace the person shaping the story. He said a writer tells a story through the pen, while a director writes through the camera. Whatever technology arrives, he argued, it will still need a good director and a storyteller “for 200 years.”

He used the epics as his proof. The Ramayana and Mahabharata have moved from stage and Ramleela to cinema, television and now technology-driven production, yet the emotional core has not changed. “You will not turn Ram into Ravan in Ramayana,” he said. “The story will remain the same, the emotions will remain the same.”

What this means for young filmmakers

Ghai’s advice was practical rather than protective of old methods. He encouraged young filmmakers to learn AI quickly because it could make filmmaking more accessible. A film that once cost Rs 100 crore might eventually be produced for Rs 10 crore with the help of AI, he suggested.

For our readers, the takeaway is useful beyond the movies:

• Anchor on emotion first. New tools should serve the story, not replace it.
• Study the right team. Ghai expects Ramayana to work because of its director and cast, not just its scale.
• Learn the new tools early. If AI can lower costs tenfold, knowing it can be a career advantage.

Carrying the legacy forward

His daughter Meghana Ghai Puri, who joined him on stage, described the weight of carrying his vision forward. “Nothing great can be achieved without it being difficult or tough,” she said. She called it both a privilege and a responsibility “on his behalf and on behalf of our industry.”

Subhash Ghai is known for grand, music-driven Hindi films such as Karz, Hero, Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak, Pardes and Taal, and has mentored talent through Whistling Woods International. His vote of confidence in Ramayana is a reminder that in Bollywood, scale may sell tickets, but story is what makes the film endure.

Source: India Today