One of the most anticipated Indian films in years has taken its first bow. On the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, the makers of “Ramayana” unveiled a new trailer, offering audiences their most substantial look yet at Ranbir Kapoor in the role of Hindu God Lord Rama.
The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios in association with eight-time Oscar-winning VFX house DNEG and Yash’s production outfit Monster Mind Creations. The film is based on Valmiki’s ancient Sanskrit epic.
The film’s ensemble cast is anchored by Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. Ravi Dubey plays Lakshmana and Sunny Deol takes on the role of Hanuman. Kajal Aggarwal portrays Mandodari and Rakul Preet Singh plays Surpanakha, alongside Arun Govil, Kunal Kapoor, Adinath Kothare, Sheeba Chaddha and Indira Krishnan. Lara Dutta appears as Kaikeyi.
The film’s score is being composed by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman. It is planned as a two-part global release, with Part 1 arriving during Diwali 2026 and Part 2 following on Diwali 2027. Both parts have been filmed for Imax.
Tiwari previously helmed the blockbuster wrestling drama “Dangal,” which remains the highest-grossing Indian film of all time. The film follows the exiled prince Rama and his wife Sita as their forest idyll is shattered by Sita’s abduction at the hands of the demon king Ravana, setting in motion an epic war between the forces of righteousness and evil. Part 1 is expected to culminate with the abduction, with Part 2 charting Ram’s campaign to reclaim his wife and vanquish Ravana.
The ancient Hindu epic has inspired screen adaptations across multiple generations and formats. The most beloved in popular memory remains Ramanand Sagar’s landmark television series, which aired on Indian state broadcaster Doordarshan from 1987 to 1988 and drew audiences of hundreds of millions across India, turning it into a cultural event of unprecedented scale. Decades earlier, the story had found its way to cinema via Vijay Bhatt’s 1943 devotional film “Ram Rajya” – notable, among other distinctions, for being the only film Mahatma Gandhi ever watched.
On the international front, a 1993 Japanese-Indian animated co-production, “Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama,” brought the epic to global animation audiences through a collaboration between Indian animation pioneer Ram Mohan and Japanese director Yugo Sako.
Watch the trailer here:
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