What is the story about?
Ranbir Kapoor and Yash-starrer Ramayana's exclusive 15 minutes were screened for exhibitors, adding to the anticipation around the Nitesh Tiwari directorial
and giving another boost ahead of its big theatrical release on Diwali 2026. The footage was screened at Big Cine Expo 2026 in Chennai, presenting theatre owners and cinema industry professionals with an early glimpse of the film's ambitious visual world. The unseen footage has infact received a lot of praise for its immersive experience that creates the grandeur of the Hindu mythological epic's world. Also starring Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol and Rakul Preet Singh, Ramayana has been produced by Namit Malhotra.
Ramayana VFX at par with Hollywood
According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, one exhibitor who attended the presentation on August 18 lavished praise on the scale of the visuals and likened the film's VFX to massive Hollywood productions, including The Lord of the Rings. The distributor described Ramayana as a "global Indian film" and said the unseen footage increased excitement around the project.
"We were amazed by the vision, imagination and VFX. Ramayana truly looks like a global Indian film. Its effects are at par with those of any Hollywood movie, like The Lord Of The Rings," the publication quoted an exhibitor.
The presentation was reportedly tightly controlled. Attendees were asked not to use their mobile phones or record any part of the screening, keeping the unreleased footage away from the public.
What was shown during the 15-minute preview?
The presentation was like a making-of video and reportedly combined new footage with producer Namit Malhotra speaking about the scale and ambition behind the project in between. He spoke about his ambitious endeavour. Finally, the Ramayana trailer, which has been out since July 30, formed the last part of the 15-minute preview
While audiences have already seen glimpses of the film through the trailer, the exclusive exhibition preview reportedly gave theatre owners a better idea of the film's larger visual scale, including its creatures and VFX work. The unseen footage included several characters and creatures that have not yet been shown publicly. Highlights included a one-eyed daitya and a bear-like creature.
Ramayana cast and other details
Ramayana features a major ensemble cast. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, while Sai Pallavi portrays Sita and Yash plays Ravana. Ravie Dubey will be shown as Lakshman and Sunny Deol will be seen as Hanuman. The cast also features Rakul Preet Singh, Lara Dutta, Arun Govil, Anupam Kher, Kajal Aggarwal, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor and many more.
The film is produced by Namit Malhotra and Yash and its visual effects are being handled by VFX studio DNEG. The music is a collaboration between Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman and Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer.
Ramayana is planned as a two-part theatrical franchise. The first part is expected to arrive during Diwali 2026, with the second instalment planned for Diwali 2027. The international release is scheduled around November 6, 2026, while the Indian release is being targeted around the Diwali period.
