Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana: Boldest Leap Yet

Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana film is more than a movie—it’s India’s biggest mytho epic yet. Explore its cast, music, vision, and why emotions are riding high.

Casting twist
Ranbir, Sai Pallavi, and Yash bring surprising depth to roles

Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana—this casting combo is shaking up Bollywood. Director Nitesh Tiwari, best known for Dangal, carefully selected these actors after over 50 rounds of auditions across six months. As per Indian Express, the casting process involved emotional roleplay tests and spiritual workshops to match the intensity of these mythological characters. Yash’s entry, especially, surprised fans—over 3.8 million Instagram posts tagged him as #Ravana2025 within days of the leak. This isn’t just about star power—it’s about chemistry and presence. And let’s be honest, when you hear these names together, you can already imagine the goosebumps.

Visual grandeur
Ramayana becomes India’s costliest mytho epic with global VFX

With a jaw-dropping ₹750 crore budget, this version of Ramayana is India’s most expensive mythological film. According to Times of India, it beats Adipurush (₹500 crore) and even RRR (₹550 crore). More than 60% of the scenes use CGI, created by global VFX giant DNEG, known for Tenet and Dune. Over 2,000 artists across 12 countries are working on digital rendering, motion capture, and environment design. Filming is spread across Mumbai Film City and Ramoji Studios in Hyderabad, covering over 10 acres. It’s not just a film—it’s a world being built, brick by digital brick, frame by glorious frame.

Cultural pulse
Makers consult scholars to stay true to faith and emotion

Ramayana isn’t just mythology—it’s devotion for millions. This emotional weight isn’t lost on the team. Unlike past flops, Ramayana’s makers are consulting over 11 Sanskrit scholars, temple priests, and historians to keep things culturally authentic. According to The Hindu, the production team even studied versions like the Kamba Ramayanam and Adbhuta Ramayana for narrative accuracy. A Pew survey in 2023 showed that 58% of Indian households read or hear Ramayana stories regularly. Tiwari told Film Companion, “We’re not modernizing Ram. We’re reconnecting him.” That matters when you’re making a story that grandmothers, kids, and everyone in between deeply care about.

🟨 Quick Fact Box:

• Budget: ₹750 crore
• Lead Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash
• Format: Three-part film
• Studio: DNEG (worked on Dune, Tenet)
• Cultural Advisors: 11 scholars across India

Story arcs
Trilogy format brings deeper layers and richer character journeys

Instead of cramming the Ramayana into one film, the creators are going the Lord of the Rings route—a three-part saga. Part 1 will cover Ayodhya to Sita’s abduction, Part 2 will dive into the Lanka war, and Part 3 focuses on Ram’s return and the Agnipariksha dilemma. Each script reportedly went through 14 major rewrites across two years (Film Companion). This allows side characters like Lakshman, Urmila, Vibhishan, and even Mandodari to get proper arcs. The goal is emotional realism—not just grand storytelling. And if done well, this could redefine how Indian mythology gets treated on screen forever.

Sita reimagined
Sai Pallavi’s Sita gets her own journey and screen time

Forget the passive portrayals—this Sita has her own voice. Sai Pallavi, known for Gargi and Premam, plays Sita as calm, wise, and quietly fierce. According to Pinkvilla, the script pulls from regional retellings where Sita’s strength is spiritual, not dramatic. About 23 minutes of Part 1 are said to focus entirely on her emotions, choices, and internal strength. In one sequence, she’s shown in dialogue with Mandodari—something rarely shown in any version of Ramayana before. Pallavi’s body language training reportedly includes Bharatanatyam sessions to reflect grace under pressure. This might become the most emotionally resonant Sita ever portrayed on screen.

Villain makeover
Yash’s Ravana adds a modern, fierce edge to the story

Ravana isn’t just being played—he’s being reimagined. Yash, who stunned fans in KGF, brings gravitas to the ten-headed king. But this time, it’s not about gold thrones and roars. According to The Hindu, Yash trained in Kathakali for six months to master Ravana’s larger-than-life gestures and emotional depth. His look is reportedly designed by the same team that worked on Brahmastra and Baahubali. More importantly, his character will reflect philosophical battles, pride, and loss—not just brute ego. Indian cinema is shifting—nearly 35% of hit films in recent years showed layered villains. And this Ravana might just become the most unforgettable of them all.

Music magic
A.R. Rahman plans soul-touching songs for every emotion

Music breathes life into myth, and who better than A.R. Rahman to lead it? As reported by India Today, Rahman’s already working on over 50 melody drafts, with ragas assigned to major characters like Ram (Raga Desh), Sita (Raga Yaman), and Ravana (Raga Bhairavi). The film plans to include bhajans, battle scores, emotional lullabies, and folk chants, keeping every age group engaged. Rahman’s previous mythological work in Mohenjo Daro and Raavan showed his flair for this genre. His team is also using live traditional instruments recorded in Chennai and Prague to add depth. Expect this soundtrack to live on long after the credits roll.

Global dream
Film targets international fans with 40-language release plan

This Ramayana isn’t stopping at India—it’s going global. According to Variety, the producers are dubbing it in 40 languages including Japanese, Arabic, Spanish, and French. Talks are on with Netflix and Amazon for simultaneous global streaming rights. The marketing team is also creating motion comics and NFTs around characters for younger, digital-first fans. Global Google search interest in “Ramayana” has jumped 71% in the last year alone, especially from the US, Indonesia, and Canada. With dubbed versions carefully crafted by native speakers, this might become India’s biggest mythological cultural export since Mahabharat aired in 1988.

Emotional payoff
Why this film could be the Ramayana we’ve waited for

At the end of the day, Ramayana is more than a movie—it’s a feeling. People want a film that respects faith, tells a good story, and makes you cry, smile, and reflect. With Ranbir’s calm presence, Sai Pallavi’s quiet strength, and Yash’s powerful conflict, this one could tick all the boxes. Nitesh Tiwari said it best in an interview: “We’re not aiming for noise. We’re aiming for hearts.” If this film does justice to the story that lives in every Indian home, we might finally get a Ramayana that becomes part of our lives—not just something we watched once and forgot.