Namit Malhotra's ambitious Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, has sparked debate despite drawing audiences to theatres and recording growing box-office numbers. While the film has received a mixed response, industry veterans and moviegoers have questioned its interpretation of the epic and deviations from Maharshi Valmiki's Ramayana. The criticism also comes from BR Chopra's Mahabharat stars Nitish Bharadwaj, who played Lord Krishna, and Mukesh Khanna, who portrayed Bhishma Pitamah.