Mumbai: Nitesh Tiwari’s much-anticipated ‘Ramayana’, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana and Sai Pallavi as Sita, arrived in theatres worldwide on November 5, ahead of Diwali.
Lara Dutta, who portrays Kaikeyi in the film, has now shared an emotional note about her association with the project from its early days and the privilege of bringing one of history’s ‘most misunderstood women’ to life.
In the Ramayana, Queen Kaikeyi asks King Dasharatha to grant her two boons: that her son Bharata be crowned king of Ayodhya and that Rama be exiled to the Dandaka forest for 14 years.
Taking to Instagram, Lara shared several stills of her look as Kaikeyi, along with a lengthy caption reflecting on her journey with the film.
“What began many years ago as a fervent wish… to be a part of something greater than oneself. Greater than the collective. Something that transcends time itself… something woven into the very fabric of our being. And today, that wish finds its place in a story as timeless as eternity,” she wrote.
She further reflected on the opportunity to portray Kaikeyi, saying, “What an extraordinary privilege to portray a mother who has perhaps been one of the most misunderstood women in history. To be entrusted with the responsibility of bringing alive her humanity… her angst, her vulnerabilities, her guilt and her remorse. A woman who changed the course of history. Or perhaps, one could say, set it upon the path it was always destined to take. I am humbled. I am deeply grateful.”
Speaking about the film’s release, Lara added, “Today, this divine story comes to you. And I hope, in my own small way, I will do justice to Mata Kaikeyi. That you will look beyond the perceptions of centuries and embrace her for the pivotal role she played in bringing a divine prophecy to fruition. Jai Shree Ram.”
The actor also thanked the film’s makers, writing, “My heartfelt gratitude to @iamnamitmalhotra and @niteshtiwari22 for entrusting me with this extraordinary opportunity. And to my incredible cast and crew… my deepest respect, love and gratitude. It is a privilege to walk this journey with you. I miss my father tremendously today and wish he was here with me to see this. Some stories are not merely told. They are lived, felt and carried within us. This is one such story.”
Made on a reported budget of ₹4,000 crore, Ramayana is among the most expensive film productions worldwide.
Featuring visual effects by Oscar-winning studio DNEG, the film is being mounted as a global cinematic spectacle, with Sony Pictures partnering for its worldwide release across a reported 70,000 screens.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations, the film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana.