The highly anticipated mythological epic Ramayana is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious projects in Indian cinema, with a reported budget of ₹4,000 crore. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana, and will be released in two parts — the first scheduled for Diwali 2026 and the second for Diwali 2027.
The makers have revealed the reasoning behind the lead cast selections. “Ranbir Kapoor was cast as Lord Rama for his calm demeanour and strong acting skills,” the team stated. “Sai Pallavi was chosen as Sita for her natural beauty and preference for performance-oriented roles over glamour. She has stayed away from cosmetic enhancements, which aligns with the film’s message that natural grace is more powerful than artificial beauty.”
Sunny Deol will be portraying Lord Hanuman, with the Vanara Sena sequences being developed using advanced motion capture technology and high-end VFX, similar to the standards seen in Planet of the Apes. Action sequences, particularly those involving Hanuman and the Vanara Sena, are being choreographed by Terry Notary, known for his work on The Lord of the Rings.
Initially, Hrithik Roshan was considered for the role of Ravana. However, the makers opted for Yash to strengthen the film’s reach in the South Indian market. Reports suggest Hrithik was also hesitant to take up the role.
