The buzz surrounding Ranbir Kapoor starrer Ramayana and Priyanka Chopra starrer Varanasi is high among the audience who are eagerly waiting for the two highly anticipated releases in Hindi cinema. Amid this, one of the biggest talkpoints about the films has been thier massive budgets. Actor Manoj Bajpayee recently reacted to the hype around the budget, saying it is just a PR ploy.
Manoj Bajpayee on budget hype
During a recent chat with Kadak, Manoj Bajpayee was asked about how Nitesh Tiwari`s Ramayana and SS Rajamouli`s Varanasi were using their budgets to create hype around the films. The actor shared, “Woh ek PR ka zariya hota hai (This is a PR tactic), because this kind of talk has been happening for the last 15 years.”
The Governor actor further explained, “This has become so infectious that sometimes any audience member who meets me at the airport they start talking about the numbers of a film. I have often scolded them, saying that ‘This money is not going into your own bank account. If this is going in your bank account, then you talk about the box office numbers of a film. You should talk about whether you like the film or not.”
The actor further emphasised, “‘These Rs 500-600 crore that they are talking about, not even one rupee is being given to you.’ So the audience have to understand that their only connection to the film is whether they like it or not; other things shouldn’t matter to them. A film’s business is only a producer’s prerogative.”
Ramayana and Varanasi budgets
Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious two-part epic Ramayana is turning out to be more than just a film. Starring an ensemble cast, the film is fast becoming the most expensive cinematic venture in Indian history. According to reports, the film is mounted on a staggering budget that exceeds Rs 4,000 crore.
On the other hand, Varanasi is reportedly being made on a colossal Rs 1,400 crore budget. It is being positioned among the most expensive Indian films ever made. According to a recent international profile, the project’s estimated to cost USD 150 million, positioning it firmly in the league of global giants rather than conventional Indian blockbusters.
