On June 16, 2023, Adipurush, the much-awaited movie based on the Hindu classic Ramayana, finally premiered. The film, which was directed by Om Raut and features a star ensemble that includes Prabhas as Ram, Kriti Sanon as Sita, Saif Ali Khan as Ravana, and Sunny Singh as Lakshman, was produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Om Raut, and Prasad Sutar.
Nevertheless, the film’s journey has been fraught with controversy from the very beginning. Back in 2021, the release of the film’s teaser faced criticism from certain Hindu groups. Those groups raised objections to the portrayal of Lord Ram and other characters.
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Accusations of inaccuracy and impropriety were leveled, with concerns over the potential offense to the religious sentiments of Hindus. The subsequent trailer also encountered a similar fate. As the complete movie hit theaters, it became embroiled in a series of controversies. From debates over VFX quality to criticism of the dialogues in a “tapori” style, Adipurush has faced intense scrutiny despite its commendable box office performance.
Numerous people have expressed the opinion that the movie disrespects Hindu sentiments, citing issues with inadequate effort and study. Due to all this, audiences have begun to miss the legendary 1987 television series Ramayan. It is because they believe it falls short of capturing the spirit of holy tale as the 1987 series did.
It’s interesting to note that the movie’s financial situation has also generated debate. According to reports, the lead actor who plays Shri Ram in Adipurush earned a salary that was 25 times higher than what the actor was paid for their part in the well-regarded Ramayan TV series. This significant disparity in pay has drawn attention and added another level to the already heated discussion.
For a complete breakdown of the cast’s remuneration for their respective roles in both Ramayan and Adipurush, here’s a detailed list:
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1. Lord Ram
Lord Ram, the central character of Ramayan, has always been heavily explored in movies related to Ramayan. Due to this, the actor who portrayed Lord Ram will also get a handsome paycheck for his performance.
Arun Govil, who portrayed Lord Ram in the Ramayan series, received a remuneration of Rs. 40 lakh for his part. In a surprising twist, actor Prabhas, who played Lord Ram in Adipurush, has reportedly been compensated with a staggering amount ranging from Rs. 100 to 150 crores.
2. Sita
Sita, the female lead and charm of Ramayana, is also another important character. However, in contrast to Lord Ram, the actors who portrayed Sita always got a lower remuneration due to their limited screen time.
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Deepika Chikhaliya, the actress who portrayed Sita in the Ramayan series, reportedly received Rs. 20 lakh for her portrayal. However, in Adipurush, actress Kriti Sanon, who took on a similar role, has got Rs. 3 crore.
3. Hanuman
Lord Hanuman, another important character in Ramayan, has always gotten more screen time. Due to this, they also get a handsome payment. A similar trend is seen in the 1987 Ramayan series. However, Adipurush defied this trend and didn’t pay much to the actor who portrayed Lord Hanuman.
Dara Singh, the esteemed actor who portrayed Hanuman in Ramayan, reportedly received Rs. 35 lakh for his remarkable performance. Conversely, in Adipurush, the talented actor Devdatta Nage, undertaking a similar portrayal, has got a sum of Rs. 2 crore.
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4. Lakshman
Lakshman’s character didn’t get as much screen time as the other above-mentioned characters. Due to this, actors who portrayed Lakshman will not get a huge sum of money as Lord and Hanuman.
Sunil Lehri, who portrayed Lakshman in Ramayan, reportedly received a remuneration of Rs. 15 to 18 lakhs for his portrayal. However, in case of Adipurush, Sunny Singh, undertaking a similar role, has received a substantial amount of Rs. 1.5 crore.
5. Raavan
Raavan is the most important negative character of Ramayan. Without a suitable actor to portray Raavan, the whole tale can’t be executed properly. Due to this, Raavan always gets a handsome paycheck, a little less than Lord Ram.
Arvind Trivedi, who brought Raavan to life in Ramayan, reportedly received remuneration of Rs. 30 lakhs for his exceptional performance. However, in Adipurush, actor Saif Ali Khan, undertaking a similar role, has got Rs. 12 crore.
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