This is an archive article published on February 10, 2025
Ashutosh Rana says Adipurush didn’t follow the craft’s ‘necessities’: ‘Audience only appreciates authentic language, costumes, dialogues’
In a recent interview with SCREEN, actor Ashutosh Rana, who will play the role of Ravana in the play Humare Ram, spoke about retaining the authenticity of mythological content.
Actor Ashutosh Rana has returned to the stage as Ravan in the theatre production, Humare Ram. Directed by Gaurav Bhardwaj, the play has already been successfully staged in 10 cities. In an interview with SCREEN, Ashutosh opened up about returning to theatre, making of mythological dramas, and much more.
When asked about larger-than-life cinema failing the audience – case in point being Adipurush, while the theatre play grabbing attention, Ashutosh replied, “When one is working on a larger-than-life subject, it is important to meet with the craft’s actual necessities, including the dialogues, costume, or how you are going to say something.”
He further added, “If we don’t take care of all these factors, then the audience doesn’t appreciate it at all. Be it a film, play, or OTT, it will only be praised when its feelings, language, costume and body language are authentic. Audiences will not accept flaws in mythology, they are emotional about it.”
The actor emphasised that not all mythological content is trolled. “The TV show Ramayana was appreciated a lot. The reason was that their actor’s looks, ambience and everything else was kept in mind. People should see Ravana in me, not Ashutosh Rana. Most movies make the same mistake, the audience doesn’t want to see the actor, they want to see the character to feel the emotions and connect,” he elaborated.
Ashutosh continued, “Every person tries to make authentic content from their side, they think they are making a masterpiece. You get to know later on if your conviction wasn’t accepted by people or not. The audience might feel it’s masala, but to you it wasn’t. Hence, it’s important to stick to the holiness of what you are making.”
Talking about his return to theatre after three decades, he expressed, “It is a full circle moment for me. My last appearance was at Kamani Auditorium in Delhi in 1994, when I was at NSD. After around 30 years, I am coming back to the same theatre to perform Humare Ram. I couldn’t have thought of a better role or play to return.”
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Meanwhile, talking about his play Humare Ram, it showcases unprecedented scenes from the Ramayana, which have never been depicted on stage before. While Ashutosh Rana portrays the role of Ravan, Lord Ram has been essayed by Rahull Bhucchar, Danish Akhtar as Lord Hanuman, Tarun Khanna as Lord Shiva, Harleen Kaur Rekhi as Sita, and Karan Sharma as Surya Deva. Kailash Kher, Shankar Mahadevan, and Sonu Nigam have collaborated for original compositions for Humare Ram.
It will be staged twice a day from 16th-23rd February, 2025.
Navya Kharbanda is an Entertainment Journalist and Cinematic Commentator at The Indian Express, where she specializes in bridging the gap between classic Bollywood heritage and contemporary Gen-Z perspectives. Her work is characterized by a blend of nostalgia-driven analysis and on-the-ground reporting from major film festivals and industry events.
Experience & Professional Background
Navya is a prominent voice on The Indian Express entertainment desk, known for her ability to secure candid interviews with both legendary veterans and rising stars. Her career highlights include:
The Indian Express: Covers a wide range of topics from high-stakes box office analysis to in-depth celebrity profiles. She is a regular at major events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
SCREEN Interviews: Navya has conducted a series of "exclusive conversations" for SCREEN, featuring industry stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Suhasini Maniratnam.
Archival Reporting: She is noted for her sensitive handling of archival interviews and retrospectives, recently covering the legacy of late superstar Dharmendra and the career reflections of the late Satish Shah.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Navya’s beat is uniquely defined by her "Gen-Z Revisit" series, where she re-evaluates cult classics through a modern lens. Her core areas of expertise include:
Cinematic Retrospectives: Analyzing 80s and 90s landmarks like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Mohabbatein to explore how themes of romance and rebellion resonate with today’s youth.
Industry Insights: Tracking the career resurgences of actors (e.g., Akshaye Khanna) and the evolving dynamics of film production and distribution in the OTT era.
On-Set Dynamics: Reporting on behind-the-scenes stories from major productions, ranging from the technical challenges of Mirzapur: The Film to the work ethics of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan.
South Indian Cinema: Expanding her coverage to include the impact of regional icons and the rise of pan-Indian fantasy epics like Magadheera.
Authoritativeness & Trust
Navya Kharbanda has established her authority by consistently providing "Journalism of Courage" in the entertainment sphere. Whether she is interrogating the sexism in patriarchal classics or reporting on the fair-pay debates at international film festivals, her work prioritizes factual accuracy and critical objectivity. Her ability to synthesize deep industry history with modern audience trends makes her a trusted source for readers seeking both entertainment news and thoughtful cultural commentary. ... Read More
