Reports circulated that Vikrant Massey had been replaced by Raghav Juyal in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, prompting a reaction from Massey himself. The film, which stars Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash, is planned as a two-part epic, with Juyal reportedly cast as Meghanad in Ramayana: Part 2, slated for a Diwali 2027 release.
Initial reports suggested that Massey was originally considered for the role of Meghanad, also known as Indrajit, the eldest son of Ravana. However, according to Variety India, plans with Massey "didn't materialize," leading the filmmakers to approach Juyal, who accepted the role. Juyal is expected to begin shooting after recovering from an injury.
On Saturday, February 7, 2026, Massey responded to a media portal's coverage of the casting news via his Instagram story. In a now-deleted post, Massey clarified that he was never a part of the Ramayana project. He wrote, "OK. To put things to rest, I was never a part of this movie. Am not, never was". Massey also criticized the "irresponsible" reporting from certain media outlets, calling it "kinda appalling". The reasons behind Massey's subsequent deletion of the Instagram story remain unknown.
The Ramayana is envisioned as a magnum opus, prompting the filmmakers to adopt a two-part approach to narrate the story. According to an insider cited by Pinkvilla, the two parts will be filmed simultaneously over a 350-day schedule and released within a year of each other. The first look of the film is expected to be unveiled on Ram Navami.
Raghav Juyal's casting as Meghanad marks a significant project in his career. He recently garnered attention for his performance in Aryan Khan's directorial debut, The Bards of Bollywood. Meghanad is a key character in the Ramayana*, known as a formidable warrior with the supernatural ability to fight from the sky while concealed in the clouds. He is famously known for defeating Ram and Lakshman twice before Lakshman ultimately kills him.
Ramayana: Part 2 is produced by Prime Focus Studios. The film's cast includes Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash in a pivotal role.