Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1 releases in Indian cinemas on 8 November 2026, on Diwali, and overseas on 6 November. Ranbir Kapoor plays Rama, Sai Pallavi plays Sita and Yash plays Ravana. The second part is planned for Diwali 2027. Here is everything confirmed so far.
Ramayana Part 1 release date
The film opens in India on 8 November 2026 and internationally on 6 November. Sony Pictures handles the international release, while Dharma Distribution is releasing it in North India, according to the film’s Wikipedia page. The makers first announced the two-part plan and Diwali dates on 6 November 2024.
The film was shot in Hindi and will release in several languages, with IMAX screenings. According to ETV Bharat, no other major Indian film is slated for November, which gives Ramayana a clear run before Shah Rukh Khan’s King arrives in December.
Also readShah Rukh Khan’s King: Release Date, Cast, Story and Budget
Ramayana Part 1 at a glance
| Detail | What is confirmed |
|---|---|
| India release | 8 November 2026 (Diwali) |
| Overseas release | 6 November 2026 |
| Director | Nitesh Tiwari |
| Producers | Namit Malhotra and Yash |
| Music | Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman |
| Language | Hindi, with dubbed versions and IMAX screenings |
| Part 2 | Planned for Diwali 2027 |
Ramayana cast and characters
The makers have assembled one of the largest casts in recent Hindi cinema. The main roles, as listed on Wikipedia, are:
- Ranbir Kapoor as Rama (he also plays Parashurama)
- Sai Pallavi as Sita
- Yash as Ravana
- Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana
- Sunny Deol as Hanuman
- Arun Govil as Dasharatha
- Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi
- Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari
- Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha
- Anupam Kher as Jatayu
Arun Govil’s casting has drawn particular attention, since he played Rama in Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan on Doordarshan in the late 1980s. Sheeba Chaddha, Vivek Oberoi, Indira Krishnan, Mohit Raina, Adinath Kothare and Kunal Kapoor are also part of the cast, according to ETV Bharat.
Who is making Ramayana
Nitesh Tiwari, best known for Dangal and Chhichhore, is the director. He wrote the screenplay with Shridhar Raghavan. The film is produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios with Yash’s Monster Mind Creations, and the visual effects company DNEG, which Malhotra heads, is also a co-producer and is handling VFX.
The music is by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, with lyrics by poet Kumar Vishwas. Zimmer is known for Hollywood scores such as Inception and Dune.
Budget: how much does Ramayana cost?
The estimated budget is about ₹4,000 crore. This figure covers both parts and includes marketing costs, as reported by multiple outlets. If accurate, it makes Ramayana the most expensive Indian film project announced so far. The makers have not released an official breakup.
Shooting timeline
Filming for Part 1 started on 2 April 2024 at Film City in Mumbai, under the working title God Power. The shoot for the first part was completed by July 2025. Principal photography for Part 2 began in March 2026 in Mumbai.
Teaser and trailer
The first glimpse, titled Ramayana: The Introduction, came out on 3 July 2025. A first look of Ranbir Kapoor as Rama followed on 2 April 2026, timed to Hanuman Jayanti.
The trailer was first shown at an event in New Delhi on 18 July 2026, then at San Diego Comic-Con on 23 July. It was released online on 30 July 2026. An English-language version with lip-synced performances followed on 5 August, a sign of how strongly the makers are pushing the film abroad.
Why the makers are pushing Ramayana abroad
Producer Namit Malhotra has described the project as an Indian story made for a global audience. That is reflected in the release plan: Sony Pictures is distributing the film internationally, the trailer was shown at San Diego Comic-Con, and an English version of the trailer was cut with lip-synced dialogue.
The film is reported to be opening on about 59,000 screens worldwide, and in China it is reportedly titled Ramayana: The Legend of the Prince. Overseas, it will compete for IMAX and premium screens with Toho’s Godzilla Minus Zero, which shares the 6 November date, according to ETV Bharat.
What we know about Part 2
Ramayana: Part 2 is planned for Diwali 2027, as announced in 2024. Its shoot started in March 2026, and ETV Bharat reported in August that about half of it had been filmed. The makers have not said where the story splits between the two parts.
What else is next for the lead actors
Ramayana takes up a large part of Ranbir Kapoor’s schedule, since he is shooting two parts back to back. His other big project, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War with Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, has been pushed to 2027, according to reports carried by The Hollywood Reporter India.
Yash became a pan-India star with the two KGF films, which were also big hits in their Hindi dubbed versions. On Ramayana he is also a producer through Monster Mind Creations, which is unusual for an actor playing the antagonist.
Keep an eye on our Bollywood section for release-week updates, and on our reviews page once the film is out.
Frequently asked questions
When is Ramayana Part 1 releasing in India?
Ramayana: Part 1 releases in Indian theatres on 8 November 2026, on Diwali. The overseas release is on 6 November 2026.
Who plays Ravana in Ramayana?
Kannada star Yash, known for the KGF films, plays Ravana. He is also a producer on the film through his company Monster Mind Creations.
Who composed the music for Ramayana?
Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman composed the music together, with lyrics by Kumar Vishwas.
When will Ramayana Part 2 release?
Ramayana: Part 2 is planned for Diwali 2027. Its shoot began in March 2026.
Sources: Wikipedia: Ramayana: Part 1, ETV Bharat, Onmanorama.
