Did Anjali Arora’s ‘Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha’ Producer Hint at ‘Ramayana’ Team Behind Negative PR Campaign?

Bollywood is abuzz with controversy as Prakash Mahobiya, the producer of the recently released mythological film Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha, has openly accused a rival "big-budget film" of orchestrating a negative public relations campaign against his project. While stopping short of a direct accusation, Mahobiya's comments strongly suggest that the team behind Nitesh Tiwari's highly anticipated Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor, may be responsible for the alleged sabotage. This comes after Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha, which premiered on September 25, 2026, struggled at the box office amidst widespread criticism. ‘Ramayana’ Release Preponed: Ranbir Kapoor’s Mythological Film to Now Arrive in Theatres on November 5?.

‘Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha’ on ‘Ramayana’ Negative PR Campaign

Speaking to India Today, Prakash Mahobiya expressed deep concern over the reception of his film, Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha, stating, "It was negative marketing throughout. We never got a chance to reach our audience."

He claimed that YouTubers, influencers, and other individuals were deliberately circulating negative comments and false information about the film, effectively creating an unfavourable perception even before audiences had a chance to experience it for themselves. "The ones who watched our film really enjoyed it. But if they never got to see it, how will they even have an opinion?" he questioned.

Mahobiya further elaborated on the alleged campaign, indicating that people were actively discouraged from watching his film. "From what we have been told, there are other movies on the same subject coming in, the big-budget film. As far as we know, a lot of negative marketing opportunities have been given to YouTubers, influencers and other people. They are spreading wrong information and asking people not to watch our film," he alleged. When pressed directly about whether he suspected Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra's team behind the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer 'Ramayana', Mahobiya refrained from making an outright accusation but admitted, "I don't know for sure, but that's what we are being told."

Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha, directed by Abhishek Singh and featuring Anjali Arora as Sita, Dev Sharma as Shri Ram, and Rajniesh Duggal as Ravan, had garnered attention prior to its release due to its casting choices and early criticism of its visual effects. The film, also starring Sheel Verma as Lakshman and Nirbhay Wadhwa as Hanuman, was released in Hindi and Chhattisgarhi, but its worldwide box office collection stood at a modest INR 46 lakh, according to Sacnilk. One particular detail, a poster showing a Vanar Sena member wearing spectacles, also drew significant online scrutiny.

More About ‘Ramayana’

This controversy unfolds against the backdrop of an increasingly crowded cinematic landscape for adaptations of the Hindu epic Ramayana. Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, produced by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios, DNEG, and Yash's Monster Mind Creations, is touted as one of India's most ambitious projects. The first part of this two-part epic is slated for a grand Diwali 2026 release globally across multiple languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam, with Sony Pictures Releasing handling international distribution.

The film boasts an ensemble cast including Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. Veteran actor Arun Govil, known for his iconic portrayal of Rama in Ramanand Sagar's 1987 television series, is also part of the cast, playing King Dashrath. Ranbir Kapoor recently celebrated his 44th birthday on September 28, 2026, with the makers releasing a behind-the-scenes video titled 'This is our Rama', where the actor emphasized the immense "responsibility" of playing Lord Rama. With a reported combined budget of ₹4,000 crore for both parts, including marketing costs, and music by A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer, Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana is undoubtedly a colossal venture.

Mahobiya remains undeterred by the initial box office performance and the alleged negative campaign. He confirmed that the team is now planning to re-release Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha in theatres, hoping for a fairer chance to reach its intended audience and be judged on its own merits. Did Anjali Arora Take a Dig at Ranbir Kapoor for Refusing Prasad in Old Ganesh Puja Video?.

This ongoing narrative highlights the intense competition and perceived tactics within the Bollywood industry, particularly when major projects tackle similar revered subjects. The coming weeks will reveal if Mahobiya's re-release strategy for Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha allows it to overcome the initial hurdles and if any further reactions emerge from the Ramayana camp regarding these serious allegations.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 06, 2026 11:28 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).