Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha Cast Led by Dev Sharma and Anjali Arora Hits Theatres

Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha, a mythological film directed by Abhishek Singh, was released in cinemas across India on September 25, 2026. The film stars Dev Sharma as Lord Ram and Anjali Arora as Goddess Sita, with Rajniesh Duggall portraying Ravan.

The ensemble cast includes Sheel Verma as Lakshman and Nirbhay Wadhwa as Hanuman. The film was shot simultaneously in Hindi and Chhattisgarhi, marking a bilingual release for the devotional drama.

The project was produced by Prakash Mahobiya and Sanjay Bundela, with Honey Kuldeep Agarwal and Moni Sen serving as co-producers. The music direction was handled by Dev Chauhaan and Ashish Donald.

Trailer Launch and Casting Journey

The trailer was launched on September 17, 2026, ahead of the film’s theatrical release. The trailer highlighted the bond between Shri Ram and Mata Sita, the journey of vanvas, Sita Haran, and the eventual confrontation between dharm and adharm.

At the trailer launch, Dev Sharma spoke about his casting journey. He revealed that he was previously offered the role of Lakshman in both Adipurush and Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana but was not selected.

Sharma said, ‘Before this, I was offered the role of Lakshman in both Adipurush as well as Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana. My look tests were also almost finalised, but things didn’t work out.’

He added, ‘Somewhere I was two inches taller than the actor playing Lord Rama, and in another, I was as huge as the actor playing Lord Rama, so I wasn’t finalised. So I was disheartened that maybe my connection with Ramayana is not that good; that is why I am being rejected again and again.’

Sharma initially declined the offer to play Lord Ram in Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha when the makers approached him. His father later persuaded him to hear the script before making a decision.

Regarding his role, Sharma said, ‘Playing Shri Ram is not a role one can approach simply as an actor. His name carries the faith and emotions of millions of people, and that brings with it an enormous responsibility.’

He continued, ‘I have tried to approach him with complete sincerity and devotion, and to understand the strength, compassion, patience and maryada that define him. I hope audiences, especially the younger generation, are able to connect with those values through our film.’

Anjali Arora on Playing Sita

Anjali Arora made her feature-film debut as Mata Sita in the film. The actress, previously known for the viral Kacha Badam song, faced trolling over her casting in the mythological role.

Speaking at the trailer launch, Arora responded to the criticism. She said, ‘No, I didn’t feel sad about it because we are public figures, and we have given the public a right to judge us.’

Describing her experience, Arora said, ‘For me, playing Mata Sita has been one of the most emotional and responsible journeys of my life. She represents immense strength, dignity, patience and faith.’

‘Her love for Shri Ram is profound, but what inspires me equally is her inner courage and the grace with which she faces every trial,’ she added.

Arora also stated, ‘I knew from the beginning that this character had to be approached with complete respect and sincerity. I hope audiences see the devotion and effort with which we have tried to bring her to the screen.’

Box Office Performance

Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha took a disappointing start at the box office on its opening day. The film collected approximately Rs 10 lakh nett on Day 1, according to trade estimates.

The film was released across 521 shows nationwide and faced heavy criticism on social media regarding its visual effects. The mythological drama received poor word-of-mouth from audiences and critics alike.

The film’s fate at the box office appears sealed given the opening numbers. It remains to be seen whether the devotional drama can see any growth over the weekend.

Critical Reception

Reviewers largely criticized the film’s visual effects, with the Times of India rating it 2.5 out of 5 stars. The review noted that the episodic storytelling and dated visual treatment made the film resemble an old-fashioned television series rather than a cinematic experience.

Despite the criticism of the VFX and production quality, some reviewers acknowledged the sincere performances by the lead cast. Rajniesh Duggall’s portrayal of Ravan received particular mention for having strong screen presence.

DNA India’s review stated that the film, despite its cartoonish VFX and low production values, was better than Adipurush in narration and in keeping the maryada of the Indian epic intact.

The film was shot in Chhattisgarh, and the state’s Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai met with the team ahead of the release. Haryana Chief Minister also unveiled the film’s poster at an event in September 2026.

Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha released ahead of Nitesh Tiwari’s big-budget Ramayana, which stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita. That film is scheduled for release around Diwali 2026 with a reported budget of Rs 4,000 crore.