For many viewers, Addinath M Kothare has emerged as one of the biggest surprises in Nayyi Navelli. An unexpected twist in the story has made his character and performance stand out. The film starts as a horror-comedy but later takes a mythological turn. Interestingly, his next film, Ramayana, also has a connection with mythology, though in a very different way. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Addinath M Kothare said, “I am fortunate that two of my films are releasing quite close to each other. While Nayyi Navelli is a fantasy centred around mythology, Ramayana is a historical.”
Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, while Addinath M Kothare plays his younger half-brother, Bharat. Recently, Addinath revealed that he and Ranbir studied at the same school, Bombay Scottish.
When asked if he had ever interacted with Ranbir Kapoor during their school days, Addinath recalled, “He was my senior. I was in Class 6 or 7 while he was in Class 9 or 10. There was a friend in my building who’s also a filmmaker today. His name is Binoy Gandhi, and he was Ranbir’s classmate. Once, they were playing in school when I was passing by. I said ‘hi’ to Binoy, and he introduced me to Ranbir. I remember Ranbir was tall and very lean, towering over me! He shook hands with me. That’s the only memory I have.”
Did he remind Ranbir about their school connection when they met again on the sets of Ramayana? Addinath replied, “Yes. I told him that we were in the same school and that Binoy was our mutual friend. He remembered.”
While Ramayana has reportedly witnessed huge advance ticket sales in the USA, the film has also faced negativity on social media. Addinath M Kothare, however, had a different take. He said, “It’s all due to algorithms. I don’t believe that (there’s negativity), as I am seeing a lot of positive responses on my feed. A lot of people are eagerly waiting for this film. I have seen this process so closely and the amount of hard work and sincerity the makers have put in. Hence, they deserve all the success for this film. This is the Ramayana we grew up on. This is the Ramayana that is etched on our hearts and souls, and it’s coming out in the best way possible. Also, the best people in the industry are making it. So, I am proud to be a part of it.”
While the first part of Ramayana releases on Diwali 2026, the second part is scheduled to arrive during the Festival of Lights next year. When asked if the shoot of the second part had been completed, Addinath stated, “I am not aware, but it’s already in process. It’s happening as we speak.”
Future plans
Addinath M Kothare is now looking forward to the web series Gandhi, in which he plays Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Directed by Hansal Mehta, the series features Pratik Gandhi as Mahatma Gandhi. Addinath admitted that he is also keen to explore more opportunities in Hindi cinema.
Meanwhile, his father, Mahesh Kothare, directed the cult Marathi horror comedy Zapatlela (1993). Its sequel, Zapatlela 2, was released in 2013, and there have been reports of a third instalment. Confirming the development, Addinath said, “Yes, Zapatlela 3 will go on floors very soon. Hopefully, next year, on Diwali, we’ll be experiencing both Zapatlela 3 and Ramayana 2!”
Lastly, does he plan to return to direction after Paani (2019), which was produced by Priyanka Chopra Jonas? Addinath revealed, “Yes, there will be a film which I’ll be directing soon. I’ll be announcing it shortly. We have been working on it for quite a while.”
More Pages: Ramayana - Part: I Box Office Collection
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