What Happened to Adipurush?
Adipurush is a 2023 Indian mythological action film inspired by the Hindu epic Ramayana, directed by Om Raut. Despite a massive budget and significant pre-release hype, the film faced widespread criticism for its visual effects, dialogues, and perceived theological inaccuracies, leading to controversies, legal challenges, and a sharp decline in box office performance after a strong opening. It was eventually released on OTT platforms and is remembered as a significant, albeit controversial, cinematic event.
Quick Answer
Adipurush, released in June 2023, was an ambitious Indian mythological film based on the Ramayana, starring Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, and Saif Ali Khan. Despite a large budget and initial box office success, it quickly became embroiled in controversies over its subpar visual effects, colloquial dialogues, and alleged misrepresentation of religious figures. The film was heavily panned by critics and audiences, leading to dialogue revisions and legal complaints. It ultimately emerged as a box office bomb despite high gross collections, and is now available on streaming platforms, with no new significant developments as of August 2026.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Film Officially Announced
Adipurush, an adaptation of the Ramayana, was officially announced with Prabhas in the lead role, directed by Om Raut.
Initial Release Date Announced
The film's initial theatrical release date was set for August 11, 2022.
Principal Photography Begins
Filming commenced in Mumbai, India, on this date.
Filming Concludes
Principal photography for Adipurush was completed.
Teaser Trailer Release and Backlash
The film's teaser was released, receiving widespread criticism for its visual effects and CGI, leading to significant public outrage.
Legal Complaints Filed
Legal cases were filed against the film's makers and cast for alleged 'indecent depiction of Lord Ram, Sita, Hanuman, Ravana' in the teaser, citing hurt religious sentiments.
New Release Date Announced
Following the VFX backlash, the film's release was postponed to June 16, 2023, to allow for visual effects improvements.
Theatrical Release
Adipurush was released worldwide in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam languages.
Dialogue Revisions Announced
Following widespread criticism of its dialogues, particularly those of Hanuman, dialogue writer Manoj Muntashir announced that some lines would be revised.
Film Banned in Nepal
The Mayor of Kathmandu, Balen Shah, banned the screening of Adipurush in Kathmandu and Pokhara due to a controversial dialogue referring to Sita as 'daughter of India'.
OTT Release
The film premiered on Netflix (Hindi) and Amazon Prime Video (Telugu and dubbed versions) for home viewing.
Director Defends Film
Director Om Raut defended Adipurush, stating it was a victim of negative perception and suggesting 'planning to pan the film' by vested interests.
Box Office Run Concludes (Reported)
Adipurush reportedly closed its box office run with a worldwide gross of ₹353 crores.
Prabhas-Raut Reunion Rumors Debunked
Reports emerged debunking rumors of Prabhas reuniting with Om Raut for a new project, indicating no immediate collaboration after Adipurush.
Updated Worldwide Box Office Figures
Updated figures indicate Adipurush achieved worldwide collections of ₹393.00 crore gross.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Adipurush, an Indian mythological action film, was first announced in August 2020, generating considerable anticipation due to its adaptation of the revered Hindu epic Ramayana and its star-studded cast, including Prabhas as Raghava (Lord Rama), Kriti Sanon as Janaki (Sita), and Saif Ali Khan as Lankesh (Ravana). Directed by Om Raut, known for 'Tanhaji' (2020), the film was envisioned as a pan-Indian project with a colossal budget, initially reported between ₹500-700 crore (approximately $52-73 million USD), making it one of the most expensive Indian films ever made.
However, the film's journey was marred by controversies even before its release. In October 2022, the initial teaser trailer was met with severe backlash for its poor-quality visual effects (VFX) and CGI, leading to widespread trolling and criticism. This public outcry prompted the filmmakers to postpone the release date from January 2023 to June 2023, allocating an additional ₹100-200 crore to rework and improve the VFX. Legal complaints were also filed against the film for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments and inaccurately depicting deities.
Upon its theatrical release on June 16, 2023, 'Adipurush' continued to face an onslaught of criticism. Critics and audiences alike heavily panned the film for its screenplay, dialogues, and visuals, with many describing the VFX as cartoonish and the dialogues as 'cringeworthy' and 'pedestrian'. Specific lines, particularly those attributed to Hanuman, drew significant outrage for their colloquial and disrespectful tone, leading dialogue writer Manoj Muntashir to promise revisions. The film also faced a ban in Kathmandu and Pokhara, Nepal, due to a dialogue referring to Sita as the 'daughter of India,' which contradicted the belief that she was born in Janakpur, Nepal.
Despite a strong opening weekend, grossing around ₹220 crore in India, the film experienced a dramatic decline in collections from its first Monday onwards, with a reported 75% drop. While the production team claimed a worldwide gross of ₹450 crore, trade figures often differed, with some reports indicating it did not even gross more than ₹300 crore in India. Ultimately, 'Adipurush' emerged as a box office bomb, failing to recover its massive budget, despite being the second-highest-grossing Telugu film of 2023. Its worldwide closing box office collections were reported around ₹353-393 crore by March 2025 and August 2026, respectively.
In the aftermath, director Om Raut defended the film in August 2024, suggesting it was a victim of negative perception and 'planning to pan the film'. The film premiered on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video in August 2023, making it accessible on home media. As of August 2026, 'Adipurush' remains a topic of discussion regarding its ambitious vision versus its controversial execution and financial outcome. Rumors of Prabhas reuniting with Om Raut for another project were debunked in August 2026, indicating no immediate new collaborations between the two after the 'Adipurush' experience.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Adipurush made different choices?