'Mere Paas Ram Hai': Mahesh Bhatt Hails Ranbir's Ramayana Act
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Following the thunderous reception and record-shattering box office run of director Nitesh Tiwari's magnum opus Ramayana, Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor has garnered praise from critics, industry peers, and moviegoers across the globe. Yet, among the deluge of accolades celebrating his portrayal of Lord Rama on the silver screen, one of the most endearing and poignant endorsements arrived straight from the family living room. Veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt could not hide his admiration for his son-in-law during intimate Diwali festivities in Bandra. Captured in a heartwarming candid photograph shared by veteran actress Soni Razdan, the legendary director playfully repurposed one of Hindi cinema’s most iconic one-liners to honor Ranbir’s transformative performance, beaming with pride as he proclaimed to the family, "Mere paas Ram hai." The affectionate nod to Indian pop culture not only illuminated their private festive gathering but also resonated across social media platforms, highlighting the deep emotional bond shared within the Kapoor-Bhatt household as the epic continues its historic theatrical conquest.
'Mere Paas Ram Hai': Mahesh Bhatt's Playful Nod to Deewaar
The delightful domestic revelation came courtesy of veteran actress Soni Razdan, who took to her official Instagram Story to share warm snapshots from the family's Diwali celebrations in Mumbai. In the widely circulated picture, Ranbir Kapoor is seen dressed in festive traditional attire, sitting close to his father-in-law Mahesh Bhatt as the duo shared an unhurried, affectionate exchange.
Razdan revealed the exact words spoken by the veteran filmmaker after watching the cinematic retelling:
The Iconic Cinema Reference: Drawing inspiration from Salim-Javed’s immortal dialogue in Yash Chopra’s 1975 classic Deewaar—where Shashi Kapoor famously delivers the line "Mere paas maa hai" to Amitabh Bachchan—Mahesh Bhatt spontaneously gave the dialogue a modern mythological twist, smiling broadly and declaring: "Mere paas Ram hai, he said proudly."
A Veteran Director's Validation: Coming from a filmmaker celebrated for hard-hitting, emotionally resonant storytelling across five decades, Bhatt's enthusiastic approval carries substantial weight within cinematic circles, underscoring Ranbir's disciplined immersion into the character of Maryada Purushottam.
Warm Family Festivities: The candid snapshot captured a rare, vulnerable moment of domestic pride, showing the Kapoor-Bhatt household coming together to celebrate both the auspicious festival of lights and the monumental artistic triumph of their leading man.
Alia Bhatt's Emotional Review: Balancing an Epic with Fatherhood
Mahesh Bhatt's high praise followed an emotional opening-day tribute penned by Ranbir’s wife, National Award-winning actress Alia Bhatt. On the day Ramayana made its grand theatrical debut, Alia shared behind-the-scenes photographs from the film's sprawling sets on her Instagram handle, giving millions of followers a peek into the demanding yet tender duality of Ranbir's professional and personal world.
The photographs captured an intimate father-daughter connection on the movie set:
Raha's Cherished Set Visits: One photograph showed their daughter Raha receiving a gentle kiss on her cheek from her father in between takes, while another showed the toddler standing beside Ranbir, who was dressed in full character regalia.
A Wife’s Heartfelt Tribute: In a touching reflection on his dedication, Alia wrote: "You poured everything into this one and somehow still had all of it left for her so proud of you Ranbir and of every single person who brought their heart and soul to this incredible experience at the movies some stories are bigger than all of us & Ramayana is one of them."
Artistic Dedication: The post highlighted how Ranbir managed the monumental psychological and physical demands of playing Lord Rama across months of rigorous filming while remaining an attentive, loving father at home.
Nitesh Tiwari's Grand Vision and a Legendary Ensemble Cast
The creative foundation that earned such heartfelt acclaim within the Bhatt household was spearheaded by visionary filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari, renowned for crafting modern cinematic masterpieces like Dangal and Chhichhore. In mounting Ramayana, Tiwari assembled one of the most formidable pan-Indian casts ever seen on screen.
The epic's expansive acting ensemble brings gravitas to timeless mythological archetypes:
Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi: Leading the narrative with poise, Ranbir embodies Lord Rama's composure, moral fortitude, and valor, while acclaimed actress Sai Pallavi delivers a moving performance as Goddess Sita, earning universal acclaim for her emotional depth.
Rocking Star Yash: Kannada superstar Yash commands the screen in an imposing, layered portrayal of Ravana, while also steering the project as a co-producer under Monster Mind Creations alongside Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios.
A Stellar Supporting Ensemble: The narrative features dynamic characterizations by Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana, Arun Govil as King Dasharatha, Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, and Faisal Malik in a crucial pivotal role.
Cinematic Craftsmanship: Backed by original background scoring from Oscar-winning composers Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, the production delivers visual spectacle without compromising the spiritual and philosophical essence of the original text.
Box Office Dominance: ₹107.50 Cr Record Day Pushes Global Gross to ₹663.90 Cr
The emotional validation within Ranbir's family mirrors the film's performance at the ticket windows. Following the nationwide Diwali celebrations, Ramayana witnessed a surge across all territories, rewriting Indian box office records.
Trade analytics compiled by tracking portal Sacnilk outline the film's commercial trajectory:
All-Time Record Single Day: On its first Monday, November 9, 2026, Ramayana registered an earth-shattering domestic net haul of ₹107.50 crore across 23,911 operational shows nationwide, setting an all-time record for the highest single-day collection in Indian cinema history.
Surpassing the ₹300 Crore Domestic Milestone: The post-festive Monday surge propelled the film's total domestic net collection past the ₹300 crore threshold within just five days of release, standing at ₹346.35 crore net in India.
Global Box Office Run: Across offshore markets in North America, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, and Australia, the film saw high occupancy among international and diaspora audiences, taking its cumulative worldwide gross earnings to ₹663.90 crore.
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