RAMAYANA: PART 1 (2026)

Summary:

Ramayana: Part 1 is an upcoming 2026 Indian Hindi-language mythological epic film written and directed by Nitesh Tiwari (Dangal, Chhichhore) and produced by Namit Malhotra under Prime Focus Studios and DNEG, in co-production with Yash's Monster Mind Creations. Mounting an unprecedented global scale with a staggering budget of over ₹835–1,000 crore, the film is the first installment of a two-part cinematic adaptation of Valmiki's timeless Indian epic. Featuring a grand star-studded ensemble led by Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as the formidable demon king Ravana, alongside Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Arun Govil as King Dashrath, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha, and Kunal Kapoor as Indra Dev. Backed by a historic musical collaboration between Academy Award winners A. R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer, Ramayana: Part 1 merges authentic spiritual reverence with state-of-the-art VFX to chronicle the divine incarnation of Ram, his youth, his marriage to Sita, the tragic exile from Ayodhya, and the tragic abduction that ignites an eternal war between righteousness and darkness. Releasing worldwide during Diwali 2026, the film is distributed globally in association with Sony Pictures Entertainment. Keywords: Ramayana 2026 Movie, Ranbir Kapoor Ram, Yash Ravana, Sai Pallavi Sita, Nitesh Tiwari Director, Hans Zimmer AR Rahman, Diwali 2026 Epic.

Plot:

The narrative opens across the cosmic realms, establishing an era where the delicate balance between good and evil is violently disrupted. In the golden island kingdom of Lanka, the formidable ruler Ravana (Yash) completes grueling penances to earn divine boons of near-invincibility from Brahma and Shiva. Driven by boundless ambition and pride, Ravana launches a relentless campaign across Dev Lok, Prithvi Lok, and Paatal Lok, vanquishing celestial gods and establishing himself as the undisputed sovereign of the cosmos. As darkness spreads and righteousness falters, the celestial deities plead with Lord Vishnu for divine intervention. Fulfilling a cosmic promise, Vishnu manifests his Seventh Avatar on the material plane, taking birth as Prince Ram (Ranbir Kapoor), the eldest son of King Dashrath (Arun Govil) and Queen Kausalya (Indira Krishnan) in the prosperous, pristine kingdom of Ayodhya. Ram grows up alongside his loyal brothers—Lakshman (Ravi Dubey), Bharata (Adinath Kothare), and Shatrughna—learning the arts of warfare, statecraft, and spiritual devotion under the guidance of royal gurus.

Ram's youth and martial prowess are put to their first major test when the revered sage Maharishi Vishwamitra arrives in Ayodhya, seeking the young prince's protection against demonic forces disrupting sacred rituals in the forest. Ram, accompanied by his fierce and devoted brother Lakshman, ventures into the wild wilderness. With calm focus and divine archery skills, Ram slays the fearsome demoness Tadaka and defeats the dark sorcerer Subahu, liberating the hermitages and proving his divine destiny. Following the victory, Vishwamitra escorts the princes to the kingdom of Mithila for the grand Swayamvar of Princess Sita (Sai Pallavi), the graceful, highly virtuous, and courageous daughter of King Janaka. Kings and warriors from across the world attempt to string the mighty Pinaka—the celestial bow of Lord Shiva—only to fail under its colossal weight. Step forward Ram, who approaches the bow with serene humility, easily lifting and stringing it with such divine power that the bow breaks into two, earning Sita's hand in marriage and uniting two great kingdoms in joy.

The narrative shifts back to Ayodhya, where the royal city prepares for a grand celebration as an aging King Dashrath formally announces the upcoming coronation of Ram as the Crown Prince. However, the joyous atmosphere is subtly poisoned by the manipulative maidservant Manthara (Sheeba Chaddha), who plays upon the latent insecurities of Queen Kaikeyi (Lara Dutta). Manthara convinces Kaikeyi that Ram's ascension will lead to the political ruin and exile of her own son, Bharata. Driven by misguided maternal paranoia, Kaikeyi invokes two ancient, unfulfilled boons granted to her by King Dashrath during a past war. She demands that her son Bharata be crowned king and that Ram be banished to the dangerous Dandakaranya forest for fourteen long years. Heartbroken and trapped by his unyielding vow of truth (Raghukul Reeti), a weeping King Dashrath is forced to grant her demands.

Demonstrating supreme filial duty, humility, and moral strength, Ram willingly accepts the exile without a trace of anger or resentment, preparing to step away from his birthright. Sita, asserting her sacred bond as his equal partner, refuses to stay behind in palace luxury, choosing instead to walk alongside him in the harsh wilderness. Lakshman, bound by absolute devotion to his brother, joins them, shedding his royal attire for the robes of an ascetic. The trio bids a tearful farewell to the weeping citizens of Ayodhya, stepping into the forest as King Dashrath succumbs to a broken heart. While Bharata indignantly rejects his mother's political conspiracy and places Ram's wooden sandals (Paduka) upon the throne of Ayodhya to rule merely as a regent, Ram, Sita, and Lakshman embrace a simple, ascetic life in the serene forests of Panchavati, protecting hermits and establishing a sanctuary of peace amidst nature.

The tranquil harmony of their forest life is shattered by the arrival of Surpanakha (Rakul Preet Singh), the alluring yet treacherous sister of Ravana. Smitten by Ram's divine beauty, Surpanakha attempts to entice him, but Ram gently rejects her advances, reaffirming his absolute monogamous devotion to Sita. Infuriated, Surpanakha attempts to violently attack Sita, prompting Lakshman to intervene and cut off her nose in punishment. Mutilated and humiliated, Surpanakha flies back to Lanka, stoking the flames of pride and anger in her brother Ravana. She describes the incomparable grace and beauty of Sita, convincing the ten-headed king that taking Sita as his queen would be the ultimate humiliation against the prince of Ayodhya and the crowning achievement of his empire.

Exploiting his dark magic, Ravana enlists the shape-shifting demon Maricha, who transforms into a breathtaking, shimmering golden deer to lure Ram deep into the forest away from their hermitage. When Sita expresses a wish for the gentle creature, Ram pursues it, leaving Lakshman behind to guard Sita. Upon realizing the deer is a demonic illusion, Ram slays Maricha, whose dying shouts mimic Ram's voice calling for help. Hearing the distress call, a reluctant Lakshman is convinced by an anxious Sita to go to his brother's aid, leaving Sita protected inside a sacred boundary (Lakshman Rekha). Taking advantage of her isolation, Ravana disguises himself as a helpless, wandering sage, tricking Sita into stepping outside the protective circle to offer alms. Revealing his true form, Ravana forcefully abducts Sita, locking her in his flying chariot, the Pushpak Vimaan, and speeding toward Lanka.

The climax of the film is a sweeping, heart-wrenching, and visceral sequence. The noble, ancient king of birds, Jatayu (voiced by Anupam Kher), witnesses the abduction in mid-air and launches a valiant, tragic assault against Ravana to save Sita, fighting until his wings are severed by the demon king's sword. Ram and Lakshman return to find their sanctuary destroyed, entering a state of profound grief and intense fury upon discovering the mortal remains of Jatayu, who reveals with his dying breath that Sita has been carried south across the ocean to Lanka. Standing atop a stormy cliff, a tearful Ram turns his gaze toward the horizon, making a monumental, sacred vow before the three worlds: he will cross the seas, tear down the golden walls of Lanka, and dismantle Ravana's empire to restore righteousness and reclaim his beloved. The film concludes on an epic, heart-pounding cliffhanger as the ocean roars, setting the stage for the ultimate battle in Part 2.

Cast:

• Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram (The divine seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu)

• Sai Pallavi as Sita (The virtuous princess of Mithila / Incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi)

• Yash as Ravana (The formidable, ten-headed king of Lanka)

• Ravi Dubey as Lakshman (Ram's devoted younger brother)

• Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman (The mighty vanara warrior and Ram's ardent devotee)

• Arun Govil as King Dashrath (The noble ruler of Ayodhya and Ram's father)

• Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi (Dashrath's third queen and Bharata's mother)

• Indira Krishnan as Kausalya (Dashrath's chief queen and Ram's mother)

• Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha (Ravana's vengeful sister)

• Kunal Kapoor as Indra Dev (The king of celestial gods)

• Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari (Ravana's noble queen)

• Adinath Kothare as Bharata (Ram's righteous younger brother)

• Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara (Kaikeyi's scheming maidservant)

• Vivek Oberoi as Vidyutjihva

• Saurabh Sachdeva as Prahasta

• Anupam Kher as the voice of Jatayu (The noble divine bird)

• Amitabh Bachchan as Voice / Narrator

Crew:

• Director: Nitesh Tiwari

• Writers: Shridhar Raghavan (Screenplay), Nitesh Tiwari (Screenplay & Adaptation), Kumar Vishwas (Dialogues), Valmiki (Based on his ancient epic Ramayana)

• Producers: Namit Malhotra, Yash

• Production Companies: Prime Focus Studios, DNEG, Monster Mind Creations

• Music Directors (Songs & Score): A. R. Rahman, Hans Zimmer

• Background Score: Hans Zimmer, A. R. Rahman

• Cinematographers (DOP): Pankaj Kumar, Mahesh Limaye

• Production Designers: Ramsey Avery, Ravi Bansal, Subrata Chakraborty, Amit Ray

• VFX Supervisor: DNEG

• Global Distribution: Sony Pictures Entertainment (International) / Dharma Productions (India)

Release Info:

• Theatrical Release Date: November 8, 2026 (Diwali Worldwide Release)

• Original Languages: Hindi (Simultaneously filmed and dubbed in English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam)

• Genre: Mythological Epic / Action / Fantasy / Drama

• Budget: ₹835–1,000+ Crore ($100–120+ Million) for Part 1

• Sequel Status: Followed by Ramayana: Part 2 (Scheduled for Diwali 2027)