Is it Ramayana or Ravanayana? That's one of the debates doing the rounds on social media ever since Nitesh Tiwari's epic hit theatres.

With Yash's portrayal of Ravana receiving considerable attention and the film dedicating its opening stretch to establishing the antagonist, some viewers feel the narrative focusses more on Ravana than Ram. But Addinath Kothare, who plays Bharat in the film, has no complaints.

In fact, he believes that's exactly how the story should unfold.In an exclusive conversation with India Today, the actor defended the film's focus on Ravana, arguing that establishing the villain is just as important as introducing the hero. After all, how can audiences truly root for Ram without understanding the formidable force he is up against?"I think it's absolutely adequate.

Everything is just right; the recipe is, every spice is in its right balance. Every piece of information is in the right balance.

Because unless you establish the villain, the story doesn't get established. It's a bible of storytelling.

Hats off to Raghavan sir (Shridhar Raghavan) and Nitesh sir for bringing this amazing screenplay together. Because he established Ravana.

In the first 20 minutes, he's establishing the antagonist, and then the story of why Vishnu's avatar had to take birth [as Ram]. And then the story moves ahead," Addinath said.He further explained why the focus on Ravana does not take away from Ram's story. "I think you will only vouch for Ram when you know what Ravana is about.

What he's up against." Addinath also praised Yash's portrayal of Ravana, saying the actor's performance left him in awe. He was particularly impressed by the film's opening stretch, which kept him hooked from the very beginning."I was in awe of everyone's performance, every moment.

I am telling you, when I was watching the movie, my jaw was on the floor. And the first 20-30 minutes, you hold your breath, literally.

The story, when it begins, until the titles come, that momentum; that pace is amazing. Yash was absolutely superb as Ravana," he said.

The actor also credited casting director Mukesh Chhabra for bringing together an ensemble that fits the world of the epic."Hats off to Mukesh Chhabra, the magician casting director, who has brought every actor who fits the character so beautifully. Including Indra and everyone, everyone," he added.For Addinath, being part of Ramayana is a blessing in itself.

The actor, who plays Bharat, said he was overwhelmed by the opportunity to be associated with director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra's vision. The film's encouraging box-office performance has made the experience even more special.Asked how it felt to see the audience response translate into numbers, particularly after the film crossed the Rs 100-crore mark in a single day on Monday, Addinath said, "It is amazing.

The audience response and appreciation is the ultimate pinnacle of satisfaction for any artist. Because that's what we live for.

And when you get that, it's overwhelming."But beyond the spectacle, scale and box-office numbers, what does Addinath personally take away from Ramayana? His answer lies in a line spoken by Ram towards the end of the film.

It is about refusing to surrender to fate and instead taking charge of one's own destiny."The most beautiful part is when Ram says, 'Ye jo mera bhaagya mujhe manya nahi, main mera bhaagya khud likhunga (I don't want to accept what's in my fate; I want to write my own destiny).' I think every person involved in this film did that, including Namit sir and Nitesh sir. Unhone unka bhaagya khud likha iss film ke zariye (They rewrote their own destiny with this film), and I think that is so inspiring," he said.Ramayana has already earned over Rs 800 crore worldwide, while its India collection is inching closer to Rs 600 crore.- Ends