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MUMBAI / LOS ANGELES — On the auspicious occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra have finally lifted the veil on their magnum opus, Ramayana. On Thursday, April 2, 2026, the makers released a breathtaking first-look teaser titled “Rama,” officially introducing Ranbir Kapoor in the titular role of the Maryada Purushottam.
The reveal, which follows a high-profile international screening in Burbank, Los Angeles, has sent shockwaves through the global film community. Critics and fans alike are calling the visuals “India’s answer to Lord of the Rings,” praising the unprecedented scale and emotional depth of the adaptation.
A Vision Seven Years in the Making
Director Nitesh Tiwari, known for the record-breaking Dangal, shared that this project has been a labor of love for over seven years.
“To reach this moment, it has personally taken me seven years. Every moment, I imagined what the reaction would be,” Tiwari stated during the Mumbai launch event.
The two-minute and 38-second teaser offers a glimpse into a world meticulously crafted by a team of over 10,000 contributors. From the sprawling, gold-laden palaces of Ayodhya to the serene yet haunting depths of the Dandaka forest, the VFX—spearheaded by DNEG—sets a new benchmark for Indian cinema.
A Divine Transformation
Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Rama is being hailed as “graceful, divine, and powerful.” Dressed in royal robes with traditional gold ornamentation, Kapoor’s “Rama” exudes a calm intensity. A standout moment in the teaser shows Rama seated in a boat; as his name is called, he slowly turns, a scene that reportedly left audiences at the LA preview in tears.
The Powerhouse Cast:
Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama
Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita
Yash (of KGF fame) as the formidable Ravana
Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman
Ravie Dubey as Lakshman
The Sound of the Epic
The teaser is further elevated by a hauntingly beautiful background score, a historic collaboration between legendary Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer and Indian maestro A.R. Rahman. The fusion of Zimmer’s cinematic grandiosity with Rahman’s soulful melodies provides the “spiritual frequency” that fans say makes the teaser feel “like home.”
Release Roadmap
Ramayana is designed as a massive two-part saga. Following the “U” certificate from the CBFC, the film’s rollout strategy is clear:
Part 1: Slated for a worldwide release in October 2026, strategically timed for the Diwali festivities.
Part 2: Expected to follow in October 2027.
As the teaser trends at #1 globally, the message from the makers is clear: this is not just a movie, but a generation-defining experience meant to showcase India’s cultural heritage on the most advanced cinematic stage possible.
“Victory to Sita and Rama,” Kapoor told the crowd at the Los Angeles Q&A, and by the looks of the initial reception, the film is already well on its way to a historic victory at the box office.
