Ramayana Trailer: Nitesh Tiwari’s much-awaited mythological epic Ramayana has finally unveiled its official trailer, giving audiences an extended look at Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. Released globally on Thursday, July 30, the trailer has quickly become one of the biggest talking points in Indian cinema.
The trailer arrives after the makers postponed its earlier planned release on July 24. Producer Namit Malhotra had announced the delay after Sony Pictures came on board as the film’s global distributor. The trailer was ultimately launched worldwide on July 30, with the makers choosing the auspicious Brahma Muhurat for its release.
Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama
The trailer begins by establishing the world of Ramayana and introduces Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, the prince of Ayodhya who is destined to become the central figure in the battle between good and evil.
Ranbir’s portrayal is presented with a restrained and composed personality rather than the larger-than-life aggression often associated with commercial heroes. The trailer traces Rama’s journey from his introduction as the son of Dashrath to his marriage with Sita and eventually his 14-year exile.
Arun Govil, who famously portrayed Rama in Ramanand Sagar’s iconic television adaptation, appears as Dashrath, adding another layer of nostalgia for audiences familiar with the epic’s earlier screen versions. The new film, however, is designed as a large-scale cinematic interpretation with modern visual effects and international production expertise.
Yash’s Ravana Becomes the Trailer’s Major Attraction
While Ranbir’s Rama forms the emotional centre of the trailer, Yash’s Ravana emerges as one of its biggest highlights.
The KGF star appears as the powerful ruler of Lanka, bringing an intimidating physical presence and intense screen persona to the character. The trailer presents Ravana not merely as a conventional villain but as a formidable ruler whose ambition, power and anger ultimately bring him into direct conflict with Rama.
Several action-heavy moments involving Yash have already become major talking points among viewers. His confrontation with Vivek Oberoi’s character Vidyutjihva is also being highlighted by audiences, adding another layer to Ravana’s character arc.
Yash had previously described Ravana as one of the most exciting characters he could play as an actor, pointing to the character’s complexity and the opportunity to explore different shades of the legendary figure.
Sai Pallavi’s Sita and the Beginning of Rama’s Exile
Sai Pallavi plays Sita, and the trailer gives considerable attention to her relationship with Rama.
The narrative moves through Rama and Sita’s marriage before the story takes a dramatic turn with Rama’s exile. Sita chooses to accompany Rama into the forest, setting the stage for the events that eventually bring Rama and Ravana into direct conflict.
The trailer attempts to balance the emotional side of the story with large-scale action, showing the personal sacrifices made by Rama and Sita alongside the growing threat from Lanka.
Surpanakha’s Entry Triggers the Conflict
Rakul Preet Singh plays Surpanakha, Ravana’s sister, and her appearance becomes an important turning point in the trailer.
The story moves towards the confrontation involving Surpanakha and Lakshman. The incident fuels Ravana’s desire for revenge and eventually becomes one of the crucial events leading towards Sita’s abduction and the larger war.
Ravi Dubey plays Lakshman, while the film features a large ensemble cast in important roles. The cast also includes Sunny Deol as Hanuman, Vivek Oberoi, Lara Dutta, Kunal Kapoor, Arun Govil and other actors.
Interestingly, Sunny Deol’s Hanuman is not prominently featured in the released trailer, something that has already generated discussion among fans. Many viewers were particularly curious to see how the veteran actor would portray the iconic character.
Four-Minute Trailer Packed With Action and VFX
One of the biggest talking points around Ramayana is its scale.
The trailer runs for more than four minutes and showcases enormous kingdoms, elaborate sets, supernatural elements, armies and large-scale battles. The makers have worked with international visual-effects teams, including DNEG and ReDefine, to create the world of the epic.
The visual presentation appears significantly more ambitious than the film’s early promotional material. The trailer moves between intimate emotional scenes and massive battle sequences, suggesting that Nitesh Tiwari is attempting to make Ramayana both a character-driven story and a global-scale spectacle.
The Central Board of Film Certification had earlier cleared two versions of the trailer with a ‘U’ certificate, with reported runtimes of four minutes and four minutes 15 seconds.
Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman Bring a Global Musical Identity
Another major attraction of Ramayana is its music.
The project brings together two internationally recognised composers, Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman. The lyrics have been written by Dr. Kumar Vishwas, creating a combination of Indian musical tradition and a large international cinematic sound.
The background score plays an important role in the trailer, especially during the sequences involving Rama and Ravana. Rather than relying only on action, the music gives the story a grand and spiritual atmosphere.
One of India’s Most Ambitious Film Projects
Produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios, Ramayana has been mounted on an unusually large scale. The project has been widely reported as having a budget running into thousands of crores, with estimates around ₹4,000 crore for the two-part saga. The exact final production cost has been widely reported differently, so the ₹4,000 crore figure should be treated as an industry-reported estimate rather than a formally audited figure.
The ambition is not limited to India. Sony Pictures has joined the project as its global distributor, giving the film an international theatrical push. DNEG, the visual-effects company led by producer Namit Malhotra, is also deeply involved in creating the film’s visual world.
The film has also received international attention after its presentation at San Diego Comic-Con, where Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and director Nitesh Tiwari appeared to promote the project.
Ramayana Will Release in Two Parts
The story is being presented as a two-part cinematic saga rather than being compressed into a single film.
Director Nitesh Tiwari has said that Ramayana: Part One will end at a point designed to leave audiences eager for the second chapter. The second part is planned for Diwali 2027.
The first part is scheduled for a Diwali 2026 theatrical release, with November 6, 2026 widely reported as the planned release date.
Ranbir vs Yash: The Battle Audiences Are Waiting For
Ultimately, the biggest attraction of Ramayana is the promised confrontation between Ranbir Kapoor’s Rama and Yash’s Ravana.
The trailer makes it clear that Nitesh Tiwari is building towards a conflict that is both personal and monumental. Rama represents duty, sacrifice and righteousness, while Ravana is presented as a powerful ruler whose pride and desire for revenge push the story towards war.
The trailer has already generated strong reactions online, with Yash’s Ravana receiving particular praise for his intensity, while viewers have also appreciated Sai Pallavi’s appearance as Sita and the film’s overall visual scale. At the same time, the limited appearance of Sunny Deol’s Hanuman has left audiences wondering how prominently the character will feature in the film itself.
With Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash leading the cast, Nitesh Tiwari at the helm, Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman handling the music, and DNEG overseeing ambitious visual effects, Ramayana is clearly positioning itself as more than a conventional Bollywood mythological film.
The real test, however, will come when the first part reaches theatres during Diwali 2026. For now, the trailer has achieved what the makers were hoping for: it has put Rama and Ravana at the centre of the conversation and turned Ramayana into one of the most anticipated Indian films of the year.
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