The much-anticipated film Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and Ravi Udyawar, is set to release in the latter half of 2025. The film promises to deliver a visually stunning retelling of the epic Ramayana, with effects by the Oscar-winning company DNEG. The film aims to resonate emotionally with the audience and convey a potent message.
Lara Dutta is being considered for the role of Princess Kaikeyi, the third wife of King Dasharatha and the mother of Bharata. Her character is crucial to the plot as she insists on her son becoming king instead of Rama, Dasharatha’s eldest son. Lara Dutta is reportedly thrilled about the possibility of joining the Ramayana cast, which includes Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana.
Nitesh Tiwari is keen on casting actors who can convincingly portray characters from this timeless Indian epic. He believes Lara Dutta is an excellent fit for the role of Princess Kaikeyi, King Dasharatha’s third wife. Her character is central to the conflict in Ramayana, and Lara is eager to be part of Nitesh Tiwari’s fantastical world.
The film is slated to begin production in March 2024, with Ranbir and Sai commencing the shoot, and Yash joining in July 2024.
Bobby Deol is also being considered for the role of Kumbhkaran, Ravana’s younger brother and a formidable warrior known for his long slumbers. Bobby Deol, fresh off the success of Animal, is yet to confirm his involvement in the film. He is currently weighing multiple offers from the industry and will make his decision in the coming months.
Sunny Deol is in advanced talks to portray Lord Hanuman, Rama’s loyal devotee and the leader of the monkey army, in Ramayana. However, the final decision has not been made yet.
Both Nitesh Tiwari and Ranbir Kapoor are eager to have Sunny Deol on board to play Lord Hanuman. This iconic character could become as synonymous with Sunny Deol as it was with Dara Singh. The team hopes to finalize Sunny Deol’s involvement within the next 20 days.
The plan is for Sunny Deol and Yash to make a brief appearance in the first part of Ramayana and then take on major roles in the subsequent parts. The team aims to finalize the cast by July 2024.
Ramayana is envisioned as a trilogy, with each part lasting over three hours. The film, produced by Madhu Mantena, Allu Aravind, and Namit Malhotra, has a budget of over Rs 500 crore. The film will be released in multiple languages, including Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. Ramayana is set to be a visual marvel that will highlight ancient Indian culture and values.
