Looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer to see the next chapter of Ramayana on the big screen! The film’s second part, which was earlier expected to release in 2027, has now been pushed to 2028.
But there’s a good reason behind the delay. The team still has plenty of work to do to bring the grand world of the epic to life.
Cinematographer Pankaj Kumar recently shared that around 60 per cent of the film has already been shot. However, a lot of visual effects (VFX) and motion-capture work is still pending. This is especially important because Part 2 will have several computer-generated characters, including Lord Hanuman and the entire vanar sena.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India, Kumar said the second part will be even grander than the first. He said, “We have already shot about 60 per cent of Part 2. A lot of VFX work, a lot of motion-capture work is left because the second part is going to be more grand than the first part. It has a lot more CG characters, like Hanuman and the whole vanar sena. A lot more details need to be worked on.”
There’s also a lot of thought going into how the film’s world should look. The makers don’t simply want forests and other locations to look like real-life places. They want them to feel magical and larger than life, just like the fantasy world audiences expect from the epic.
Kumar explained this while talking about the film’s visual style. He said, “If we shot Ramayana in a real jungle, the world would look very real, but maybe that’s not what we’re looking for. We want our world to look more enhanced, better than the real forest. For the forests that Ram and Lakshman are walking in to fight demons, realistic trees in the jungle may not give us that larger-than-life experience, with giant monsters attacking and our characters swinging from one tree to the other. Where is realism in that? There is no realism in that. You are giving a fantasy world to the audience. So why be a stickler for realistic-looking leaves or branches? It’s just a different medium of expressing yourself.”
Ramayana was always planned as a two-part film, with the second instalment initially scheduled for 2027. Producer Namit Malhotra has now confirmed that it will arrive in 2028.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. Ravie Dubey plays Lakshman, while Sunny Deol will be seen as Lord Hanuman. The film also has a strong supporting cast. Arun Govil plays King Dasharatha, Lara Dutta is Kaikeyi, Indira Krishnan plays Kaushalya, Kajal Aggarwal essays Mandodari and Rakul Preet Singh will be seen as Surpanakha.
Vivek Oberoi plays Vidyutjihva, Faisal Malik is Kumbhkarna, Harish Uthaman portrays Vibhishana and Kunal Kapoor plays Lord Indra. Anupam Kher has lent his voice to Jatayu.
