Kamal Ghorui
Once again, a leaked image from the sets of ‘Ramayana’ is rotating on the internet. This time, images that have gone viral are purported to show Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi dressed as Lord Rama and Sita in the upcoming mythological epic. The photos appeared unusually clear and showed the two actors in elaborate royal costumes, seemingly portraying the divine couple in regal attire. But the authenticity of these pictures quickly came under scrutiny. Fans wondered if these pictures are real or AI images? Television actor Ashish Sharma, who once played Lord Rama in the show ‘Siya Ke Ram’, has now confirmed that the images are fake.On Saturday, several social media accounts began sharing the pictures, which show Ranbir wearing a crown and ornate jewellery while gazing forward, as Sai Pallavi, also dressed in a crown and heavy ornaments, looks towards him. One widely shared post claimed, “Leak Pictures of Ranbir and Sai Pallavi from Ramayana.” Others suggested the visuals were from the Ram–Sita wedding sequence in the film.
However, many users online expressed doubts about the legitimacy of the images. The main reason was their unusually high clarity for something described as a “leak.” One user wrote, “Leaked pictures can’t be this clear.” Another questioned the timing: “Ram-Sita wedding must be in Part One, which wrapped filming last year. How are these appearing now?” Some users even asked the AI chatbot Grok to analyse the image, and it appeared to support the suspicion that the photos were fabricated. According to Grok, “It’s a face-swapped edit from the old TV serial Siya Ke Ram, not real leaked set photos from the upcoming film. Actual leaks show Ranbir in simpler dhoti/wig attire.”Amid the speculation, Ashish Sharma stepped in to address the claims. Sharing one of the viral images on his social media, he revealed that it had been digitally altered from a still of his own appearance in Siya Ke Ram. Posting the original frame alongside the edited version, the actor joked, “Here you go. One more “Original” leaked image. AI couldn’t replace my Hair.”The television series Siya Ke Ram, which aired in 2015–16 on Star Plus, retold the epic Ramayana from Sita’s perspective. Alongside Ashish Sharma as Lord Rama, the show featured Madirakshi Mundle as Sita, Karan Suchak as Lakshman, Karthik Jayaram as Ravana, and Danish Akhtar Saifi as Lord Hanuman.The upcoming film adaptation, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is being developed as a two-part cinematic retelling of the epic. The first installment is scheduled to release in theatres this Diwali. Apart from Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, the film also features Yash as Ravana, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. Touted as one of the most ambitious and expensive Indian productions ever, Ramayana will feature visual effects created by the Oscar-winning studio Prime Focus.
