First glimpse of Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana unveiled, Director calls it a tribute to Indian culture

The long-anticipated cinematic adaptation of the Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, finally offered its first glimpse to audiences, setting social media abuzz and giving fans a preview of what’s being positioned as one of India’s most ambitious film projects to date.

Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Kannada superstar Yash as Ravana, Ramayana is being crafted as a two-part live-action saga shot for IMAX. The film aims to bring the ancient Indian epic, revered by over 2.5 billion people worldwide, to global audiences with the scale and ambition of major international franchises.

The sneak peek was unveiled at an exclusive IMAX event attended by members of the media and fans. Speaking at the launch, director Nitesh Tiwari—best known for Dangal and Chhichhore—shared his vision for the project. “For me, it’s about the pride we should feel for the great culture we have in our country,” Tiwari said. “If we can evoke that and show the world what we stand for, that would be an achievement—and that’s what I’m hoping to do with this.”

Producer Namit Malhotra, founder of Prime Focus Limited and the driving force behind Oscar-winning VFX studio DNEG (a co-producer on the film), called Ramayana the fulfillment of a long-held dream. “It has been a very, very long dream to put our hearts and souls into this and do justice to it,” he said. “My only aspiration is: how do we take our greatest culture, our greatest history, and share it with the world?”

Malhotra also emphasised the film's visual ambition, with DNEG overseeing the effects work. “We are leaving no stone unturned to deliver the most spectacular cinematic experience possible,” he added.

In a rare collaboration, the film also brings together creative forces from both Bollywood and Hollywood. It is being produced by Prime Focus Studios in association with Yash’s Monster Mind Creations and DNEG, which has won eight Academy Awards for visual effects, including for films like Dune and Inception.

Ramayana: Part One is scheduled for a global theatrical release in Diwali 2026, followed by Part Two in Diwali 2027.

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