Actress Indira Krishnan has spoken about the unpleasant experience of facing online trolling after being cast as Queen Kaushalya in Nitesh Tiwari’s mythological film Ramayana. The actress, who plays the mother of Lord Ram, portrayed by Ranbir Kapoor, revealed that she received offensive messages from people questioning her decision to share an onscreen mother-son relationship with the actor.
According to Indira, some people were unhappy with Ranbir Kapoor’s casting as Lord Ram even before watching the film. Their criticism also extended to her role as Kaushalya, with certain messages referring to an old video in which the actor had spoken about eating beef. Recalling one such message, Indira said people asked her whether she was playing the mother of someone who eats beef.
The actress discussed the experience in a recent conversation with News18, explaining how the criticism surrounding the casting affected the atmosphere before the film reached audiences. Her comments have once again brought attention to the debate surrounding Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Ram and the expectations attached to a cinematic adaptation of the epic.
Indira Krishnan Recalls Receiving Offensive Messages
Indira revealed that the criticism was not limited to general social media discussions. She also received direct text messages questioning her association with the project.
The actress recalled that some people were disappointed with the decision to cast Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram. Their objections were linked to an old 2011 video in which the actor had discussed eating beef. One message directed at Indira reportedly questioned how she could agree to play the mother of an actor associated with that controversy.
The trolling reflected the larger debate around the casting of Ranbir Kapoor. Before the film's release, sections of social media users had questioned whether the actor, known for portraying intense and morally complex characters in films such as Animal, could convincingly portray Lord Ram.
Indira's account highlights how the criticism surrounding a film's casting can sometimes extend beyond the principal actor and affect other members of the cast as well.
She Praises Ranbir Kapoor’s Dedication
Despite the criticism, Indira said Ranbir remained focused on his work and did not respond publicly to the negativity.
She recalled that the actor continued to arrive on set and give his complete effort to the film. According to her, he did not make an issue of the criticism or react to the comments being circulated online.
Indira also suggested that she suspected some of the trolling might have been organised or financially motivated. However, she did not provide evidence to establish that the online criticism was paid for.
The actress felt that some people had formed an opinion about the film before watching it and had already assumed that the project would not succeed. She argued that audiences should understand the scale of the undertaking and the challenges involved in bringing a story like the Ramayana to the screen.
Indira Thanks Ranbir for Recommending Her as Kaushalya
Indira's association with Ranbir Kapoor goes back to their work together in Sandeep Reddy Vanga's 2023 film Animal. In that film, she played the mother of Rashmika Mandanna's character, Geetanjali.
She previously shared an interesting conversation from the final day of shooting for Animal. During the interaction, Rashmika expressed her wish to work with Indira again and suggested that the actress could play her mother in another project.
Ranbir joined the conversation and reportedly told Indira that she could also play his mother someday. The actress responded positively, saying that she would like to portray his mother in a future film.
That casual exchange eventually became a reality when Indira was cast as Queen Kaushalya in Ramayana. She has also credited Ranbir with recommending her name to director Nitesh Tiwari for the important role.
Indira said she was grateful to the actor for supporting her casting and helping her become part of such a significant project. She also expressed confidence that she had done justice to the character.
Indira Calls Ramayana a Global Opportunity for Indian Cinema
Speaking about the film's larger ambition, Indira highlighted the effort involved in presenting the Indian epic to audiences around the world.
She praised producer Namit Malhotra for taking on the challenge of mounting a project on such a large scale. According to the actress, making a film based on the Ramayana for contemporary global audiences required considerable effort and overcoming several production challenges.
She also pointed out that viewers should give the film an opportunity before forming conclusions about it. Indira said the team had attempted to bring Indian cinema to a global platform through the project.
While acknowledging that the film had faced criticism, she described it as a distinctive cinematic undertaking and said the team was happy to create something intended for international audiences.
Ramayana Features a Star-Studded Cast
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The film also includes Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Arun Govil as King Dasharatha.
Indira Krishnan plays Queen Kaushalya, while Lara Dutta appears as Kaikeyi. The ensemble also includes several other actors in important roles connected to the epic.
The film has attracted considerable attention because of its scale, casting and interpretation of one of India's most celebrated mythological stories. Alongside box-office interest, discussions about its creative choices and performances have continued among audiences.
Indira's latest remarks offer a glimpse into the pressure faced by actors associated with high-profile projects, particularly when the subject carries deep cultural and religious significance. Her experience also underlines how online criticism can become personal, even for performers whose roles are not at the centre of a casting controversy.
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