The first look of Nitesh Tiwari's "Ramayana" has been revealed, featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Yash as Ravana. The unveiling took place across nine major Indian cities. The film is planned as a two-part epic, with the first part slated for release during Diwali 2026 and the second part following in Diwali 2027.
Yash, who plays the formidable Raavan, commenced filming in Mumbai in April 2025. His month-long schedule includes key scenes from both "Part One" and "Part Two". Reports suggest that Yash will be filming solo sequences initially, with combination scenes involving Sai Pallavi (Sita), Ranbir Kapoor (Lord Ram), and Sunny Deol (Lord Hanuman) to follow.
A glimpse of Yash as Ravana shows him emerging from darkness with only part of his face revealed, hinting at the menacing nature of his character. In an earlier interview, Yash expressed his fascination with the character of Ravana, citing the shades and nuances as particularly exciting for an actor to portray.
The first look of "Ramayana" has generated significant buzz, with many praising the stunning VFX and visuals. The teaser offers glimpses of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, showcasing him shooting arrows with intense focus. Observers have noted the striking contrast between Yash's intense and fiery Ravana and Ranbir Kapoor's calm and composed Lord Rama.
Namit Malhotra, the producer of "Ramayana," shared the first glimpse on Instagram with a special note: "Ten years of Aspiration. Relentless Conviction to bring the Greatest Epic of all time to the World. An outcome through a collaboration of some of the world's best to ensure that Ramayana is presented with the greatest amount of Reverence and Respect. Welcome to the Beginning. Let's Celebrate the IMMORTAL story of Rama v/s Ravana. Our Truth. Our History".
The film boasts a star-studded cast, including Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. Kajal Aggarwal and Lara Dutta are also part of the cast. The music is being composed by Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman.
"Ramayana" is being made on a grand scale, with an estimated budget of approximately Rs 835 crore, surpassing the production costs of other major Indian films. The film aims to represent India and its stories on a global level.