Ramayana, one of India’s most celebrated mythological epics, has inspired countless adaptations over the decades. Now, filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari is bringing the timeless story to the big screen on an unprecedented scale with a two-part cinematic spectacle. Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana, Ramayana is slated to hit theatres in two installments during Diwali 2026 and Diwali 2027.
The film recently grabbed attention at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2026, where director Nitesh Tiwari shared an intriguing detail about the project’s early development. During the interaction, he revealed that the makers had initially envisioned Ramayana as a trilogy before ultimately deciding to tell the story in two films.
Explaining the decision, Tiwari said Ramayana is an emotionally layered epic that deserved enough screen time to do justice to its characters and relationships. While compressing the narrative into a single film would have compromised its emotional depth, extending it to three installments created another challenge.
According to the director, the proposed third film would have been almost entirely centered on the war, leaving limited scope for the emotional moments that define the epic. After several creative discussions, the team concluded that a two-part format offered the ideal balance between storytelling, emotion, and spectacle.
Stretching that familiar narrative across three films didn’t feel like the right creative choice, prompting the makers to settle on a two-part adaptation instead.
The recently unveiled trailer received a phenomenal response, with Yash’s commanding screen presence as Ravana emerging as one of its biggest highlights. The film’s scale, visual effects, and production values also earned widespread appreciation.
Apart from the lead trio, Ramayana features Sunny Deol, Vivek Oberoi, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, and several others in pivotal roles. Produced by Namit Malhotra and Yash, the film has been shot for IMAX and will be released in multiple languages and premium formats. The makers are expected to unveil more promotional material in the coming months.