The highly anticipated filming of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana finally began earlier this year, albeit after facing a few hurdles. After a brief pause to rework the costumes, the production commenced at Film City in Mumbai. This followed a period of meticulous planning and adjustments, including a crucial phase of look tests with the updated outfits for the cast. Despite the change in production hands, with Madhu Mantena exiting the project, the film's journey hasn't been entirely smooth sailing. While Mantena's departure initially sparked rumours of a potential shift in direction, reports now suggest he has requested a halt in filming until he receives appropriate compensation.
According to a report in Mid-day, an inside source said the shoot of Tiwari's mythological epic was indeed stalled due to a copyright infringement case. “Filming continued for a few days after the notice, but has been on hold since last week. The legalities need to be sorted out, and filming will only resume after a consensus is reached on the matter,” revealed the source, who confirms the film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, alongside Sunny Deol, Yash, and Sai Pallavi.
While production is currently on hold, sources from the production house assured fans that the film has not been shelved. Shooting is expected to recommence within three weeks. The delay is attributed to scheduling conflicts with the lead actors.
Ranbir Kapoor is committed to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's project Love & War later this year, and Sunny Deol has filming lined up for Border 2. The production team is working on a schedule that minimizes disruption caused by their absence. The film will be shot in two parts, with a six-month gap between the release of the first and second installments.
According to a report in Pinkvilla, sources close to the production revealed that Nitesh Tiwari and his team are envisioning Ramayana as a grand two-part saga. Given the epic scale and complexity of the story, the makers have opted for this approach to effectively narrate the tale. Unlike most film productions where the success of the first part determines the green light for a sequel, Ramayana will be filmed concurrently.
Reports suggest that a grand audio-visual announcement for Ramayana is expected soon, showcasing the film's global talent pool. While the cast boasts of actors from across India, the technical team follows a similar international collaboration model. As previously reported, the music for Ramayana will be a joint composition by the legendary Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman. ALSO READ: Makers of Ramayana put curtains on set to avoid further leaks
