Ranbir Kapoor Leads Star-Studded Cast as Trailer Drops

The first trailer for Nitesh Tiwari's highly anticipated adaptation of the Ramayana was unveiled on July 30, 2026, confirming the full cast of the two-part cinematic saga. Ranbir Kapoor embodies Lord Ram, bringing a composed and determined energy to the prince of Ayodhya, while Kannada superstar Yash dominates the screen as the mighty antagonist Ravana. Sai Pallavi appears as Sita, capturing the character's grace during scenes from the swayamvar to the exile.

The trailer also introduces television actor Ravie Dubey as the loyal Lakshman, and places veteran performers in pivotal roles: Arun Govil, who famously played Ram in Ramanand Sagar's television classic, returns to the mythology as King Dashratha. Lara Dutta portrays Queen Kaikeyi, alongside Indira Krishnan and Sonal Jha as the other queens, with Sheeba Chaddha as the scheming aide Manthara.

The film's scale is underlined by its creative team: the music is composed by Academy Award winners Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman in their first collaboration on an Indian feature film, while action sequences are designed by Mad Max's Guy Norris. Although Sunny Deol has been cast as Hanuman, the character is absent from this first footage, sparking widespread social media speculation about a later reveal.

Beyond the Trailer: What This 'Ramayana' Means for Indian Epic Cinema

A New Creative Scale for Indian Epics

Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana marks an effort to bring Hollywood-scale technical might to Indian mythological storytelling without losing local cultural nuance. The pairing of Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman signals a soundtrack designed for both domestic resonance and global streaming platforms, while Guy Norris's action choreography aims to blend Indian combat traditions with contemporary blockbuster visual language. Backed by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios and distributed by Dharma Productions, the film bets that a two-part, Diwali-aligned release—Part 1 in 2026, Part 2 in 2027—can turn a sacred text into an extended theatrical event.

Casting as Cultural Continuity

The decision to cast Arun Govil—synonymous with Ram for an older generation—as Dashratha creates a deliberate bridge between televised nostalgia and modern cinema. Similarly, casting a major Kannada star like Yash as Ravana broadens the film's southern Indian appeal, a key commercial imperative for a project of this budget. The absence of Sunny Deol's Hanuman from the trailer is a clear marketing strategy, likely intended to sustain buzz across the long promotional window leading to the Diwali release.