Scheduled for a Diwali debut, the film pairs Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, and Sai Pallavi in an adaptation that has drawn considerable audience anticipation ahead of its opening as the first chapter of the Ramayana series. A global theatrical run for Ramayana: Part 1 is scheduled to begin on 5 November 2026, with opening weekend falling on the Diwali holiday.
Production of the sequel has run into a potential scheduling setback, according to recent accounts. Additional filming time is understood to be needed by the crew to capture sequences portraying the confrontation between Ravana and Lord Rama. Production timelines for the film's action-heavy sequences and other scenes are running beyond initial projections, a stretch that puts a 2028 debut on the table rather than a release in the coming year.
A theatrical window pegged to Diwali 2027 has given way to planning that points toward 2028 instead. An unnamed insider conveyed to a well-known broadcaster that filming the latter portion of the project would demand additional time to complete. That insider account points to Part 2 of Ramayana as the instalment where the production's broader scope will find its fullest expression — largely because the battle between Rama and Ravana, the clash around which the entire narrative turns, is scheduled to unfold there.
No announcement confirming the update has come from those responsible for the production. Completing the action design has taken more time than originally anticipated. According to those behind the production, distinctive action sequences were developed with the aim of broadening the film's appeal to audiences worldwide.
Malhotra, serving as producer, and Tiwari, directing the project, are working to bring Ramayana to the screen on a large-scale cinematic footing. According to available accounts, Malhotra has set aside budget constraints in pursuit of his vision, treating financial barriers as secondary to realising his goals. At a stated budget of Rs 3,000 crore, the Ramayana franchise carries a production outlay that filmmakers say will register visually throughout the project.
According to unconfirmed reports, a post-credits sequence embedded in the Diwali release of Ramayana would carry the official unveiling of a premiere date for the franchise's follow-up chapter. Tickets for the production are now on sale in advance, with the entire picture captured through IMAX camera technology.
Clocking in at three hours and 15 minutes, the picture directed by Nitesh Tiwari carries a notably extended running time. Music for the mythology-rooted production — a project whose reported production outlay stands at Rs 4,000 crore — draws on the combined work of AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer. Visual effects work on the production falls to DNEG, an Academy Award-winning studio whose film credits include both Dune and The Odyssey.
Ravi Dubey, Vivek Oberoi, Rakul Preet Singh, Lara Dutta, and Kajal Aggarwal are among the cast members taking on notable parts alongside the lead.
