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Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayana' continues to generate buzz for its grand scale, ensemble cast and reported Rs 4,000 crore budget. While several reports have focused on the hefty remuneration of the film's leading stars, Vivek Oberoi has made headlines for a very different reason. The actor revealed that he chose not to accept any payment for his work in the mythological epic and instead decided to support a charitable cause.


Vivek Oberoi chose not to take a fee


In Ramayana, Vivek Oberoi will portray Vidyutjihva, the demon prince and husband of Shurpanakha. He will also be seen as Vibhishan, Ravana's righteous younger brother. Rather than accepting a salary for the project, the actor decided to dedicate his earnings to helping children battling cancer.


Speaking to Hindustan Times, Vivek Oberoi explained the reason behind his decision. He said, “I told Namit that I don’t want a penny for this, I want to donate it to any sort of cause that I believe in, which is kids with cancer. I told him I want to support you because I just love what you’re doing and I think that this will take Indian cinema on the global stage with a bang."


Actor opens up about the project


Vivek Oberoi also shared his experience of working on the ambitious film and spoke about the significance of the story. He reflected on the long-standing debate surrounding the Ramayana and described his time on set as enjoyable.


He said, “There is always the battle between whether Ramayana is mythological or historical, we believe it is historical, and it was great working on it. I was so happy and it was a lot of fun working with the whole crew, Namit, Nitesh, (actors) Yash, Rakul (Preet Singh). I still have a couple of days shoot left."


Reported remuneration of the lead cast


While Vivek has decided not to take a fee, reports suggest that several members of the cast are receiving significant remuneration. Ranbir Kapoor, who plays Lord Ram, is reportedly earning Rs 75 crore for each installment, taking his total reported fee to Rs 150 crore.


Yash, who essays Ravana and is also associated with the project as a co-producer, is said to be receiving Rs 50 crore per film, amounting to Rs 100 crore for the two-part saga. Sai Pallavi, cast as Sita, has reportedly charged Rs 6 crore for each installment. Sunny Deol, who portrays Lord Hanuman, is said to have signed the project for Rs 20 crore per film.


One of India's biggest film projects


Apart from Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi and Vivek Oberoi, the ensemble cast also includes Lara Dutta, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Shobana and Faisal Malik in important roles.


Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, 'Ramayana' is among the most ambitious Indian films ever mounted, with a reported budget of Rs 4,000 crore. The epic has been planned as a two-part franchise. The first installment is scheduled for a Diwali 2026 release, while the second part is expected to arrive during Diwali 2027.