Mumbai, April 2 The first look of Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama from producer Namit Malhotra's "Ramayana," one of the most ambitious cinematic projects in the history of Indian cinema, was unveiled on Thursday.
The makers released a two-minute-38-second teaser titled 'Rama' on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, offering audiences their first glimpse into Lord Rama's world, from the battlefields to the grand palaces and dense forests, with Kapoor donning royal robes adorned with heavy gold jewellery as the king and warrior of Ayodhya.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, best known for "Dangal" and "Chhichhore," the film has been in development for seven years.
"It has personally taken me seven years to reach this moment. Filmmaking is a speculative and solitary process. In every moment of these seven years, I have imagined this moment and what the reaction would be when it is released.
"Today, seeing your reaction, I feel that the seven years have been worth it. Many people have worked on this film. We hope to receive a lot of love from all of you," Tiwari said at a promotional event.
The filmmaker said he was aware of the audience's emotional attachment to "Ramayana" and added that the team has tried to be as "authentic" as possible.
"…You understand the sensitivity and attachment (to ‘Ramayana’), you keep those things in mind. We have taken care in portraying Lord Rama, and I feel it is very authentic," the director said.
The film also features "KGF" star Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lord Lakshman.
"Ramayana" is produced by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios and DNEG, in association with Yash's Monster Mind Creations.
The film is a two-part live-action saga rooted in one of Indian mythology's most enduring epics, and draws on the full might of DNEG, one of the world's leading visual effects studios, with eight Academy Awards for films including "Inception", "Interstellar", "Dune" and "Dune: Part Two".
Malhotra, who is the CEO of DNEG, described it as a “special moment”.
“We have made this (film) with a lot of love. Before you release it, there’s a feeling of wanting to keep it, and we are like, ‘Are we ready to share it?’ Thanks to Nitesh and the team who have worked hard to put this labour of love.
"I am proud of what we have put out. I hope you all have loved it. ‘Ramayana’ chooses you,” said Malhotra.
He said the aim behind the movie is to introduce the story of the mythological epic and Lord Rama to the world.
“There are Indians all over the world. We should not be divisive, that's where we go wrong on ‘Ramayana’... It’s one world, one ‘Ramayana’ and one Rama. The idea is to show it to the entire world," he added.
The team had earlier held a grand event in Los Angeles that was attended by Malhotra, Tiwari and Kapoor.
Asked about the reason for holding an event in the US, Malhotra said, “The Indians in America are thanking and appreciating. You need to understand the emotion of the Indian people over there.”
While post-production is underway for part one of “Ramayana,” Malhotra said filming for part two is already in progress, largely taking place indoors due to the heavy use of visual effects.
In a statement, Kapoor said the experience has been humbling.
"I don't think I'm here to represent Rama. I'm here to learn from him. There is a simplicity and purity to him that is very rare, and trying to understand and imbibe that has been a deeply humbling experience," the actor said.
The first part of “Ramayana” is slated to release worldwide in IMAX during Diwali 2026, with part two following in Diwali 2027.
The film’s crew includes renowned international artists, including Oscar-winning composers Hans Zimmer and A R Rahman, who are collaborating on the score.
The action sequences are choreographed by Hollywood stunt veterans Terry Notary and Guy Norris, and the film’s visual world is being shaped by production designers Ravi Bansal of “Dune: Part Two” fame and Ramsey Avery as “Captain America”.
