Fans at San Diego Comic-Con got an early look at director Nitesh Tiwari‘s massive two-part take on the ancient Hindu mythology «Ramayana“.
Backed by Monster Mind Creations and Prime Focus Studios, this project carries a reported $500 mln price tag, officially making it the costliest Indian film venture to date. Shot specifically for Imax screens, the historical fantasy will reach global audiences through multiple regional and international dubs.
Early footage introduces viewers to the demon king Ravana (Yash) claiming control over heaven, earth and the underworld. A narrator then sets the stakes, describing Lord Vishnu taking a mortal body to fight universal chaos and bring back peace. We then meet Prince Rama, played by Ranbir Kapoor. In a clever nod to television history, veteran actor Arun Govil plays Rama’s father King Dasharatha. Govil is best known for portraying Lord Rama himself in the legendary 1987 TV series.
A tale of exile and warfare
Honouring a promise made by his father, Rama heads into a 14-year banishment in the wilderness alongside his wife Sita (Sai Pallavi) and brother Lakshmana (Ravi Dubey). Trouble starts when Ravana’s sister Surpanakha (Rakul Preet Singh) falls for the prince. Her eventual rejection and embarrassment force Ravana to step in, sparking the central conflict that results in Sita being kidnapped.
The first movie will likely end right after the abduction. This leaves the massive rescue mission and final war for the sequel. Closing out the teaser, fans see huge armies, magical weapons and heavy computer graphics as Rama swears to cross all realms to destroy Ravana.
Behind the scenes, the crew is using advanced artificial intelligence to handle the voice dubbing. This tech aims to keep the emotional delivery intact regardless of what language the viewer selects. Meanwhile, the visual effects are managed by DNEG. The company holds eight Oscars for its work on visually stunning blockbusters like “Inception» and the «Dune» franchise.
Targeting a major festival release
The creative team shared this first glimpse during their dedicated Comic-Con panel. They also confirmed their release strategy, slotting the first chapter for a Diwali 2026 premiere and saving the second chapter for Diwali 2027.
Picking this specific festival is highly intentional. The holiday directly honours Rama’s victorious return to Ayodhya after his long exile. During Diwali, people traditionally light lamps to represent the brightly lit city welcoming its prince back home.
Musically, the epic boasts a rare joint effort from Oscar winners Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman. Rounding out the main cast are Sunny Deol playing Hanuman and Lara Dutta taking on the role of Queen Kaikeyi.
Dharma Productions will manage the rollout across India while Sony Pictures handles all international distribution.
