The much-anticipated promotional event for the film 'Ramayana', featuring its cast, makers, and global YouTube sensation MrBeast, descended into chaos on September 26, leaving numerous journalists frustrated and leading to several walkouts. What was meant to be a high-profile media interaction turned into a four-hour ordeal marked by miscommunication and delays.
A Cascade of Confusion: The Invitation Fiasco
The disorganization began even before the event commenced. Media invites, initially sent on September 25 for a September 26 event, were quickly followed by multiple revised invites, each with different timings. Journalists were initially informed of a 12:30 pm start, which was then revised to 12:00 pm, then 1:00 pm, finally settling on a 'sharp' 1:30 pm. This constant shifting of schedules forced media personnel to trek to Film City, a location far from central media hubs, only to face further uncertainty.
Endless Waiting and Frustration Builds
Despite the assurances, the event did not begin at 1:30 pm. Journalists waited for hours, with the publicity team unable to provide clear answers regarding the delay. It was only after 3:00 pm that attendees were informed of MrBeast's delayed flight from Bengaluru as the cause. When media members pressed for better communication, reports indicate that they were told they were 'free to leave' if they didn't wish to wait, a response that fueled anger and prompted many journalists to stage a walkout.
Ranbir Kapoor's Response and Team Accountability
Actor Ranbir Kapoor, present at the venue, reportedly remarked, "Aap logon ko jana hai toh chale jao" (If you people want to leave, you can go), upon being informed of the walkouts. However, sources clarified that his comment was not delivered arrogantly but rather indicated his own irritation with the delay. Both Ranbir and Sai Pallavi, who had been present since morning, expressed their displeasure to the event team. The delay was compounded by a lack of communication from MrBeast's largely foreign-comprised team, leaving the local PR team in the dark.
A Brief Event After a Marathon Wait
The event finally kicked off around 5:00 pm, a staggering three-and-a-half hours after its promised start. Adding to the media's disappointment, the interaction concluded in a mere 20 minutes, with no significant new announcements. Only actor Ravie Dubey offered an apology for the extensive wait. The key visual moments included Ranbir Kapoor, Namit Malhotra, and Ravie Dubey lifting the 'Shiv Dhanush', while MrBeast enthusiastically chanted "Jai Shri Ram." While these moments provided striking photographs, many journalists felt that such a brief photo opportunity did not justify hours of waiting, especially given the event's inconvenient Film City location. The prolonged ordeal left many feeling that their entire Saturday had been wasted.
