New Delhi: Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana: Part 1 is all set to arrive in theatres on November 5, but fans have to wait a little longer for its second instalment.
Producer Namit Malhotra has confirmed that the release of Ramayana: Part 2, which was originally scheduled for 2027, has been postponed to 2028. And that’s not the only update. The makers are also keeping the possibility of turning the two-part epic into a trilogy open.
The announcement comes as the team gears up for the release of the first film, which has already been screened at premieres in Los Angeles, London, and Mumbai. While the delay may disappoint fans hoping to see the conclusion next year, Namit has made it clear that the decision is about giving the sequel enough time rather than rushing it to theatres.
Why has Ramayana Part 2 been postponed to 2028?
While speaking with E! News, producer Namit Malhotra said that the makers are taking their time to get the second instalment right, because of the scale of the project and the excitement it has generated.
He explained that the team wants the finale to match the ambition and grandeur of the first film. “So the idea was now that we’ve got so much excitement that the world has had, we want to take a little bit more time to make sure that when we present the grand finale, we have a little bit more time to do what we did on Part One,” he said.
“That extra year is what I genuinely believe we need to do justice to a film of this size. When you see part 2 coming in, that will be a whole other story. We didn’t want to do a rush job or get ahead of ourselves. We want to deliver the finale in the most grand way that it deserves,” he was quoted as saying.
Will Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana become a trilogy?
During a separate conversation with Review Nation, Namit revealed that the project was originally imagined as a trilogy before the makers decided to tell the story in two films. However, with filming still underway, the producer suggested that the team could revisit its plans after seeing how audiences respond to the first instalment.
He said, “I feel like we may sit back on the drawing board and see if there’s anything else that we want to add or subtract, depending on how the world has received it. Because, you know, while we say that, we also have two different versions of the same film, with two different runtimes on part one itself. So, depending on which way the next round of feedback goes, I’d love to not have to make two different versions. I’m sure Nitesh would also like to stick to one version.”
Ramayana Part 1 has two different versions
Speaking to E! News, the producer revealed that the film was initially developed as an Indian production intended to reach viewers across the world. However, as work progressed, the team decided to create two distinct master versions.
The English-language version is said to have a separate edit and rewritten script, instead of a dubbed copy of the Indian version. The two versions also differ in runtime, something Namit admitted while talking about revisiting the franchise’s structure. The producer also said that he would prefer to avoid making two separate versions in the future, with director Nitesh Tiwari potentially working towards a single version.
About Ramayana: Part One?
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana: Part 1 stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The mythological epic also features Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana.
