Filmmaker Rohit Shetty recently revealed his reasons for not bringing Bollywood’s popular couple, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, together on-screen in his latest film, Singham Again. In an interview with News18, Shetty explained that the film’s narrative, inspired by the epic Ramayana, required careful treatment to avoid controversy and ensure cultural sensitivity.

Shetty, who is known for his high-octane action films, explained that Singham Again aligns with themes from the Ramayana, which influenced certain creative decisions. “Even for Ranveer’s character, there’s no conversation with Deepika’s character. We made this choice to ensure that no sentiments were hurt, even for a second,” Shetty said. “Otherwise, we would’ve loved to bring them together and add a playful scene with banter.”

According to Shetty, Ranveer Singh’s role as Simmba is loosely based on Hanuman, a revered figure in the epic. Introducing a playful exchange between Simmba and Deepika’s character, Shakti Shetty, could have risked offending audiences, Shetty felt. “Since Ranveer’s character is a reflection of Hanuman ji, it could’ve gone seriously wrong,” he said. Although Ranveer’s Simmba shares playful moments with Akshay Kumar’s character, Shetty decided to avoid a similar dynamic with Deepika. “We knew what boundaries we needed to respect,” he added.

Throughout the film’s production, Shetty acknowledged that his primary concern was not the box office outcome, but the sensitive handling of Ramayana-inspired elements. “We were worried throughout the making. Star cast and action were one side, but our main focus was on not going wrong with the Ramayana connection,” Shetty said. “Not hurting anyone’s sentiment was the biggest task for us.”

Singam Again, which premiered on November 1, has enjoyed a successful run, particularly boosted by its Diwali release. Presented by Jio Studios in collaboration with Rohit Shetty Picturez and Devgn Films, the film marks the third installment in Shetty’s popular Singham franchise. The ensemble cast includes Ajay Devgn, Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, and Arjun Kapoor. Thus far, Singham Again has amassed over ₹200 crore at the Indian box office, continuing the franchise’s winning streak.

Shetty’s strategic choices in Singham Again underscore his commitment to respecting cultural narratives while delivering the action and drama his audiences expect, striking a balance between storytelling and sensitivity.