Manoj Bajpayee calls massive budget claims “PR tactic” amid Ramayana and Varanasi budget chatter: “A film’s business is only a producer’s prerogative

Manoj Bajpayee has spoken out about the growing trend of filmmakers using big budget numbers as part of their marketing strategy.

 He says people should focus on the quality of the film instead of the money spent on making it. This comes as big projects like Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana and SS Rajamouli's Varanasi are getting a lot of attention because of their reported budgets. Ramayana has been linked to budget figures ranging from Rs 1,600 crores up to nearly Rs 4,000 crores for its two-part release, while Varanasi is said to have a budget that could exceed Rs 1,300 crores.

In a recent conversation with Kadak, Manoj Bajpayee was asked about the attention these budget numbers are getting and whether filmmakers are using them to create hype.

 He said, "That's a PR tactic, because this kind of talking has been going on for the last 15 years."

The actor explained how discussions about budgets and box office numbers have become a big part of how people talk about movies.

 "This has become so common that sometimes when people meet me at the airport, they start talking about the numbers of a film. I have often warned them, saying, 'This money isn't going into your bank account. If it was, then you could talk about box office numbers. You should be talking about whether you like the film or not.'"

According to Bajpayee, people should watch films based on their own experience and not be influenced by financial details.

 He also added, "These Rs 500-600 crores they are talking about don't even go to the audience. So you need to understand that the only thing that matters is whether you like the film or not. Other things shouldn't matter. A film's business is only the producer's decision."

Meanwhile, Manoj Bajpayee is currently promoting his upcoming film, Governor.

 Based on real events, the film is set during India's economic crisis in the 1990s. Directed by Chinmay Mandlekar and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the movie explores political and institutional challenges during a critical period in the country's history.

The film features music by Amit Trivedi and lyrics by Javed Akhtar.

 Governor is set to release in cinemas on June 12, 2026.