The biggest role of Ranbir's career
Ranbir Kapoor waited three years between films to play Ram, and the wait shows in how much rides on this performance. Ram is not just a lead role. He is a figure crores of people grew up worshipping, and every gesture gets judged against a lifetime of stories, television, and temple art. That is the pressure Ranbir walked into, and the reactions so far show exactly how hard that job is.
The film follows Ram from his marriage to Sita through 14 years of exile, and it asks Ranbir to play calm, duty, and restraint for nearly 195 minutes. He also makes a special appearance as Lord Parashurama. It is a huge canvas, and Ranbir is at the centre of almost all of it.
So how did he do? The honest answer is that it depends who you ask. Fans and some critics love him. Other critics say he is the film's weak link. This article lays out both sides, with the exact words people used.
What the fans love about his Ram
Start with the praise, because there is a lot of it. One X user called Ranbir the film's biggest asset with excellent screen presence, and that line has been picked up across the audience roundups. Another viewer gave the film 5 stars and wrote about Ranbir Kapoor's divine grace, Yash's fierce screen presence, and the world class VFX. That post called the film a proud cinematic experience for every Indian, and told people to watch it on the biggest screen possible.
The early audience reactions on X praised Ranbir's screen presence again and again, and Outlook India's X roundup said netizens are praising the performances, music, and VFX. One user called the film a grand cinematic experience with beautiful visuals, powerful performances, and an emotional story.
Rapper Badshah went further than anyone. After watching the film, he rated it six on five, and he praised the performances of Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Ravi Dubey, and Yash. That is not a critic's score, it is a fan's cheer, but it shows how strongly the film has landed with at least some viewers.
Trade veteran Taran Adarsh is also in the praise camp. He watched the film twice, in 2D and 3D, and called it fantastic and a brilliant movie.
What the critics say is missing
Now the other side, because it is just as loud. Outlook India, in its 2.5 out of 5 review published on the morning of release day, said Ranbir Kapoor's Ram lacks the character's expected composure. That is a precise criticism. It does not say Ranbir is bad. It says the calm, the stillness, the weight that Ram is supposed to carry does not come through.
IGN made the same point in blunter language. It said that much like Kapoor's Rama, Sai Pallavi's Sita is graceful in posture, but there is little underlying either of them as actual human beings. It also said the fantasy fights lack the necessary physical and emotional weight to make a lasting impact. That is a criticism of the character writing as much as the acting, but Ranbir is the one on screen when it lands.
ScreenRant was kinder but pointed in the same direction. It said Ranbir and Sai Pallavi excel in the more action packed moments and bring a lot of charm to the scenes that expand on their characters. But it added that they are rooted so thoroughly in their embodiment of their mythological selves that they do not always feel fully human. The exception, it said, is Yash as Ravana.
The harshest audience voices go further. NDTV's X review roundup reported that some viewers called Ranbir's acting painfully dull, and said it ruined their whole experience. Others questioned the casting directly, calling Ranbir and Sai Pallavi misfits for their roles. Those are fan opinions, not critic scores, but they are real reactions from people who paid to watch the film on day 1.
The middle ground most viewers seem to land on
Between the praise and the attacks sits a middle verdict that may be the fairest read. M9.news, which also gave the film 2.5 out of 5, said Ranbir is decent as Rama, both in his appearance and performance. It added that he does his job well, and there are no major complaints. That is not glowing, but it is not a failure either.
Venky Reviews, posting on X on October 31, landed in a similar place. It gave the film 2.5 out of 5 and wrote that Ranbir and Sai Pallavi are sincere as Ram and Sita, but the divine and emotional connect never comes through consistently. Sincere but not transcendent. That may be the most accurate single line about Ranbir's Ram so far.
Part of the problem may be the writing, not the actor. Several critics say the film spends so much time on Ravana's rise and on spectacle that Ram's inner life gets less room. A quiet, restrained god is a hard role to make feel alive.
How Ranbir himself has answered the noise
Ranbir has not hidden from the mixed response. After the LA premiere drew mixed international reviews, he responded with the old Hindi line, kuchh toh log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna. People will talk, that is what people do. Producer Namit Malhotra backed him up, and the two of them addressed the months of trolling and memes that have followed the project.
So where does that leave you? If you love Ranbir, the fan reactions say you will find plenty to cheer. If you expect a Ram who feels fully human, the critics say you may leave wanting more. Watch the film, watch the Ram and Sita scenes closely, and decide for yourself which side you land on.
What fans are saying on X
X user quoted in NDTV roundup, November 5, 2026: "My Honest Review: #Ramayana Massive budget, zero soul. #Ranbir's acting is painfully dull and ruined the entire experience. #Yash as Ravana is literally the only reason to sit through this mess. My Rating: 1.5/5 (Strictly for Yash)." Read the NDTV roundup.
Venky Reviews (@venkyreviews), October 31, 2026: "Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi are sincere as Ram and Sita, but the divine and emotional connect never comes through consistently." Rating 2.5/5. Read the Daily Jagran roundup.
Sources and reporting
- Outlook India — Nov 5, 2026 · Verifies the 2.5/5 rating and the criticism that Ranbir's Ram lacks the character's expected composure
- NDTV — Nov 5, 2026 · Verifies the divided X reaction, the painfully dull criticism, the biggest asset praise, and the 1.5/5 viewer rating
- Mathrubhumi English — Nov 5, 2026 · Verifies Badshah rating the film six on five, Ranbir's Parashurama appearance, and the praise for Ranbir's screen presence
