Rohit Shetty, the popular filmmaker behind action-packed movies like Singham, Simmba, and Sooryavanshi, recently opened up about the pressures and challenges he faced while working on his latest film, Singham Again. The movie is part of his cop universe, which blends action with elements of Indian mythology, particularly the Ramayana. In a candid conversation with News18 Showsha, Rohit shared his thoughts on how the fear of public backlash, especially from people who are emotionally connected to the Ramayana, influenced his creative decisions.
One of the most interesting things Rohit discussed was the anxiety he felt about the potential for backlash over incorporating the Ramayana into the film. Singham Again is not just another action movie; it takes a unique approach by weaving together elements of the epic Ramayana with the modern-day cop universe he’s created. But as Rohit explained, this was a double-edged sword. While it was a fresh and innovative concept, it was also risky. Rohit was well aware that blending such a sacred and culturally significant text with a mass-market film could raise sensitivities, especially among people who hold the Ramayana dear. He was worried that if they did not handle it delicately, it could lead to a strong negative reaction from audiences.
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“We were worried throughout the making. Star cast and action were on one side. But what we were alert and conscious about was not going wrong because we’re all emotionally connected with the Ramayan. Not hurting anyone’s sentiment was the biggest task for us," Rohit explained. He made it clear that, while the film’s box office success was important, his primary concern was making sure the story did not upset anyone. "I wasn’t worried about the box office performance of Singham Again but if there will be any objections to the Ramayan part in the film," he added.
The pressure to get the cultural representation right was intense. “Incorporating elements from the Ramayan was a risk factor,” Rohit admitted. Despite the challenges, he and his team were determined to take the plunge. However, they were also cautious. "What if we go wrong with the Ramayan? If they didn’t like it, there would be a massive revolt and backlash, which could’ve harmed our film in a big way," he said. Fortunately, their careful approach paid off. Rohit is happy that they managed to tell the story in a way that resonated with the audience without crossing any lines. "But our intentions were right. As filmmakers, our intentions are always right and we don’t want to hurt anyone consciously. Thankfully, it worked in our favour."
Rohit’s focus on being sensitive to public sentiment extended to his treatment of key characters in the film as well. One example he shared was his decision not to include any songs in Singham Again. While Bollywood films are often known for their song and dance sequences, Rohit felt that this wasn’t the right fit for the character of Sita Ma, who is portrayed by Kareena Kapoor Khan in the movie. "If you see, there are no songs in the film. There are only background tracks. We always wanted to keep in mind that Kareena’s character is a reflection of Sita Ma," he explained. Rohit knew that having Kareena’s character perform action scenes or engage in song sequences could be seen as disrespectful or "dicey," given that Sita Ma is a revered figure in Hindu mythology.
Rohit also revealed that his sensitivity about the portrayal of mythological characters even affected the way he worked with popular actors like Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, who star together in Singham Again. While many fans would have loved to see the real-life couple share romantic or playful scenes in the film, Rohit had to exercise caution. “Even for Ranveer’s character, there’s no conversation that he has with Deepika’s character. We did all this so that no one got hurt for even a second,” he said. It was clear that the filmmaker was more focused on ensuring that no one felt uncomfortable or disrespected by the way the characters interacted.
Rohit explained that despite the chemistry between the couple, he had to make a conscious decision to keep their characters separate for the sake of sensitivity. "Otherwise, we would’ve loved to bring them together and put a scene where they’re having a banter," he said. This was particularly important given the nature of the characters they were portraying. Ranveer’s character, for example, was meant to be a reflection of Lord Hanuman, a figure known for his devotion, strength, and loyalty. "Since Ranveer was a reflection of Hanuman ji’s character, it could’ve gone seriously wrong," Rohit admitted.
He also mentioned how he had to tread carefully when writing the interactions between Ranveer and other characters, like Akshay Kumar’s character. "There’s a banter between Ranveer and Akshay also and we could have done something similar with Ranveer and Deepika too. But we consciously took this decision," he explained. It was a difficult balancing act—creating an entertaining movie while also being mindful of the cultural and religious sensibilities of the audience.
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