Manoj Bajpayee says the hype around the big budgets of movies like 'Ramayana', Varanasi' is a PR tactic: 'These Rs 500-600 crore that they are talking about...'

As discussions around the soaring budgets of upcoming big-ticket films continue to dominate headlines, actor Manoj Bajpayee has weighed in on the trend, calling it nothing more than a publicity strategy.The actor recently shared his views during a conversation when he was asked about the buzz surrounding the reported budgets of Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana and Priyanka Chopra's Varanasi. According to Manoj, such conversations are often amplified as part of a film's promotional campaign.“Woh ek PR ka zariya hota hai (This is a PR tactic), because this kind of talk has been happening for the last 15 years," he said in a conversation with Kadak. Reflecting on how deeply box office figures and budgets have entered public discourse, Manoj revealed that even casual interactions with fans often revolve around numbers rather than the content of a film.He explained, “This has become so infectious that sometimes any audience member who meets me at the airport they start talking about the numbers of a film. I have often scolded them, saying that ‘This money is not going in your own bank account. If this is going in your bank account, then you talk about the box office numbers of a film. You should talk about whether you like the film or not."The actor further added that audiences should focus on their viewing experience instead of getting caught up in financial figures attached to films.“These Rs 500-600 crore that they are talking about, not even one rupee is being given to you.’ So the audience have to understand that their only connection to the film is whether they like it or not; other things shouldn’t matter to them. A film’s business is only a producer’s prerogative," he mentioned.Meanwhile, Ramayana continues to generate immense anticipation ahead of its release. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the two-part mythological spectacle is reportedly being mounted on a scale never before seen in Indian cinema, with estimates suggesting a budget exceeding Rs 4,000 crore.A significant contributor to the film's visual ambition is DNEG, the globally renowned VFX studio behind acclaimed projects such as Inception, Interstellar, Blade Runner 2049 and Dune. Producer Namit Malhotra has repeatedly stated his commitment to ensuring that Ramayana is brought to life with world-class production values.Priyanka Chopra's Varanasi is also being positioned as one of the costliest Indian productions ever undertaken. Reports suggest the film carries an estimated budget of around Rs 1,400 crore, while an international profile valued the project at approximately USD 150 million, placing it in the category of large-scale global cinematic ventures.