Ramayana 2026 is out in cinemas now. Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, the big-screen retelling of the ancient Indian epic, opened worldwide on Thursday, 5 November 2026, in time for Diwali, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana.
It is one of the biggest Indian films ever made, with music by Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman, visual effects from the Oscar-winning studio behind Dune and Interstellar, and a trailer that has already passed one billion views across platforms.
Ramayana Release Date and Where to Watch
Ramayana: Rise of a Legend was released globally in theatres on 5 November 2026. It is showing in Hindi and English, in IMAX and Premium Large Formats, and tickets are on sale now.
The film runs for 3 hours and 28 minutes. It is the first part of a two-part retelling, and it ends with the arrival of Hanuman — a moment the makers kept back as a late surprise.
Ramayana Cast and Characters
The film brings together some of the biggest stars in Indian cinema:
- Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama — the prince bound by sacrifice, at the centre of the story;
- Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita — Rama’s wife, whose marriage and exile set the story in motion;
- Yash as Ravana — the immortal king driven by vengeance, and the film’s villain;
- Ravie Dubey as Lakshman — Rama’s brother and loyal companion;
- Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman — kept largely hidden in the marketing until release day.
The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari, whose film Dangal remains the highest-grossing Indian film worldwide. The screenplay is by Shridhar Raghavan, and it is produced by Namit Malhotra of Prime Focus Studios.
What Is the Story?
Ramayana: Rise of a Legend follows the celebrated ancient epic known to billions. A young prince and princess, Rama and Sita, see their marriage and exile mark the beginning of a legendary journey, while Ravana, an immortal king driven by vengeance, stands against them.
The official synopsis describes Rama as “a prince bound by sacrifice” and Ravana as “an immortal king driven by vengeance”, with a prophecy binding their fates together.
This first film covers the opening chapter of the story, ending with Hanuman’s arrival. The makers have positioned it as the start of a large-scale, two-part retelling rather than a single self-contained film.
The Trailer Crossed 1 Billion Views
The official trailer was released on 15 October 2026, and it became a record-breaker before the film even opened. According to figures shared online, the trailers across all platforms and languages — including YouTube and Instagram — have reached one billion views in total.
The Hindi trailer alone collected more than 600 million views on Instagram. Sony Pictures promoted the film with the line “Mankind’s greatest story comes to life”, and pointed to the visual effects team behind The Odyssey and Dune.
The visual effects are handled by DNEG, the Oscar-winning studio behind Inception, Interstellar and Dune. The music is by two Academy Award winners, Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman.
Sunny Deol’s Hanuman Reveal on Release Day
One of the film’s biggest talking points came on release day itself. A post-credit scene featuring Hanuman leaked online shortly before release, and the makers responded by officially releasing Sunny Deol’s first proper teaser as Lord Hanuman on 5 November, through a grand Hanuman Chalisa video.
The video keeps Deol’s full look under wraps but shows a towering silhouette from behind, before the character makes a giant leap and declares “Jai Shri Ram”. The devotional track brings together singers Sukhwinder Singh, Diljit Dosanjh, Mohit Chauhan, Shankar Mahadevan and Kailash Kher.
It is a deliberate choice: Hanuman’s entry was saved as a late-stage surprise rather than an early plot point, and it is one of the biggest takeaways from the first film.
Why Ramayana Matters
The Ramayana is one of the oldest and most widely told stories in the world, and this is its biggest screen version yet. The combination of a huge budget, a star cast, an Oscar-winning effects studio and two of the world’s best-known film composers has made it one of the most talked-about releases of the year.
Early reactions will matter a lot. The film’s scale means it needs a strong opening weekend, and the second part will depend on how this first chapter performs. For now, the numbers are on its side: a billion trailer views, a Diwali release date and a story that audiences already know by heart.
If you are planning to watch it, book IMAX or a premium large format if you can — that is where the film’s scale and effects will show best.
For more Bollywood news, read our report on Shah Rukh Khan turning 61 and the first song from his film King.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Ramayana: Rise of a Legend released?
The film was released worldwide in cinemas on 5 November 2026, in time for Diwali, in Hindi and English.
Who plays Rama, Sita and Ravana in Ramayana?
Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi plays Goddess Sita, and Yash plays Ravana. Ravie Dubey plays Lakshman and Sunny Deol plays Lord Hanuman.
How long is Ramayana: Rise of a Legend?
The film runs for 3 hours and 28 minutes.
Is Ramayana: Rise of a Legend part 1 of 2?
Yes. It is the opening chapter of a two-part retelling of the epic, and it ends with Hanuman’s arrival.
Who directed Ramayana and who composed the music?
It is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra. The music is by Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman, and the visual effects are by DNEG.
