With the release of ‘Ramayana’ Part 1 drawing closer, anticipation surrounding Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious adaptation of the epic continues to build. The film’s trailer, released on July 30, offered audiences a first look at Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita and several other key characters. However, one major cast member was notably absent from the trailer, Sunny Deol, who plays Lord Hanuman.Now, according to a report by Bollywood Hungama, the makers may be deliberately keeping Sunny’s appearance under wraps until the very end of the first instalment, potentially setting up a major cliffhanger for ‘Ramayana’ Part 2.
Sunny Deol’s Lord Hanuman reveal reportedly saved for the end
According to the report, Sunny Deol will appear only towards the conclusion of Ramayana Part 1. His introduction could reportedly be positioned as the film’s final scene or even as a mid-credit or post-credit sequence. The reported strategy appears designed to generate maximum curiosity around the character and create a theatrical moment that leaves audiences wanting more. A source cited by Bollywood Hungama reportedly compared the approach to the ending of ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’, where the question surrounding Kattappa and Baahubali became a major pop-culture talking point ahead of the sequel.If the report is accurate, the introduction of Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman could similarly become the big talking point after ‘Ramayana’ Part 1 ends.
Why ‘Ramayana’ makers may be keeping Sunny Deol’s Hanuman look under wraps
Sunny Deol’s absence from the promotional material so far has naturally generated considerable curiosity. While Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Rakul Preet Singh and other members of the ensemble have featured prominently in the trailer and promotional campaign, Sunny’s portrayal of Lord Hanuman remains largely unseen by the general audience. The decision could be particularly significant given the scale of the project and the expectations surrounding Sunny’s casting. Rather than revealing his look in advance, the makers may be attempting to preserve the character’s first appearance as a big-screen reveal. Interestingly, a select group of industry attendees had already received a glimpse of Sunny Deol as Hanuman during an exclusive presentation of Ramayana footage at CinemaCon 2026 in Las Vegas earlier this year. According to reports at the time, the footage showed the actor in an entirely different avatar.
15-minute ‘Ramayana’ footage impresses exhibitors at Big Cine Expo 2026
The buzz around Ramayana received another boost following the screening of approximately 15 minutes of previously unreleased footage at Big Cine Expo 2026 in Chennai. The two-day exhibition event was held on August 18 and 19, with the exclusive Ramayana presentation taking place on the first day. The footage had not been made available to the public, and exhibitors were reportedly prohibited from recording the presentation.According to the same publication’s earlier report, an exhibitor who attended the screening, the presentation featured several previously unseen creatures, including a one-eyed daitya and a bear-like creature. The scale and visual effects reportedly left attendees impressed, with one exhibitor describing the film as a potential “global Indian film” and comparing its VFX with large-scale Hollywood productions such as ‘The Lord of the Rings.‘The presentation reportedly also functioned partly as a making-of featurette, incorporating comments from producer Namit Malhotra about the scale and ambition of the project. The theatrical trailer, which had already premiered on July 30, formed the concluding portion of the presentation.
‘Ramayana’ release date: When will Part 1 arrive in theatres?
‘Ramayana: The Introduction’ is targeting a Diwali 2026 release in India. Producer Namit Malhotra has clarified that the film is expected to release internationally on November 6, 2026, while the Indian theatrical release is being targeted for November 8, 2026, coinciding with Diwali. The two-day difference is reportedly linked to international distribution schedules, with November 6 falling on a Friday, while Diwali in India falls on November 8 this year. The sequel, Ramayana Part 2, is planned for a Diwali 2027 release.
Who stars in ‘Ramayana’?
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana features a major ensemble cast led by Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The supporting cast includes Rakul Preet Singh, Lara Dutta and other prominent actors. The film is being mounted as a two-part saga and is being filmed for IMAX. Its music is being composed by Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman, while DNEG is handling the visual effects.
