Social media sensation Anjali Arora, widely known as the "Kacha Badam Girl," has stepped into mainstream mythological cinema with her upcoming film Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha, where she essays the role of Goddess Sita. Following the digital unveiling of its official theatrical preview, the cinematic project found itself at the epicenter of relentless public scrutiny and widespread online backlash. Dropping just days ahead of its scheduled cinema debut, the trailer offers a whirlwind glimpse into pivotal mythological episodes, beginning with the abduction of Sita by Ravana, Lord Rama’s solemn vow, the arrival of Lord Hanuman in Lanka, the burning of the golden fortress, and the climactic warfare sequences. However, rather than generating excitement among cinephiles, the promotional footage has sparked intense trolling across social media platforms over production standards and character portrayals.

Social Media Backlash Over AI-Like Visual Effects and Dubious Casting Choices

Online audiences quickly flooded comment sections, drawing sharp comparisons between this mythological retelling and previous large-scale cinematic adaptations. Viewers directed harsh critique toward the film's visual presentation, with a substantial portion of users panning the computer-generated graphics and calling out the imagery for appearing like cheap artificial intelligence generations rather than polished visual effects. The casting choices have encountered similar resistance from digital audiences; one viral reaction remarked, "Respect for Adipurush has suddenly increased," while another user quipped, "Ram's casting looks more like Ravana's casting." Netizens were also seen contrasting the production's visual scale against Bollywood’s upcoming big-budget interpretations, including Nitesh Tiwari’s anticipated Ramayana starring Ranbir Kapoor, questioning the readiness of the project for theatrical exhibition.

Star Ensemble, Creative Direction, and Box Office Clash With 'The Vvaan'

Helmed by directors Abhishek Singh and Deepak Mishra, Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha features an ensemble television and film cast. Television actor Dev Sharma leads the screen as Lord Rama, accompanied by former model and actor Rajneesh Duggal portraying the primary antagonist Ravana, with Sheel Verma taking up the mantle of Lakshman and Nirbhay Wadhwa appearing as Lord Hanuman alongside Anjali Arora’s Sita. The mythological drama is scheduled for a pan-India theatrical release on September 25, 2026. This release date puts the movie directly on a high-stakes box office collision course with the much-anticipated action thriller The Vvaan, which stars Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia, setting up an intense battle for domestic screen counts and ticket sales during the festive autumn season.