Ramayana: Part 1 draws praise from Sandeep Reddy Vanga, Vivek Oberoi and Mahesh Babu

Ramayana: Part 1, a mythological epic directed by Nitesh Tiwari, opened in theatres on 5 November 2026. Filmmakers and actors have been publicly praising it, and producer Namit Malhotra has said the second part will now arrive in 2028.

Filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga wrote on X that Ranbir Kapoor and Yash had "nailed it bone-deep". He urged audiences to watch the film on the big screen. Vanga also praised producer Namit Malhotra's commitment to the project.

Actor Vivek Oberoi, who plays Vidyuthjiva in the film, called it a "MahaYagya" for Indian culture and values. He said Ranbir Kapoor's portrayal of Lord Rama had left him feeling he had seen "my Ram ji on screen". Oberoi also called Yash's Ravana "brilliant". Telugu actor Mahesh Babu wrote on X that the stories "coming alive so beautifully on the big screen" made him happy, and he named Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi.

The film and its cast

The film follows the epic's story, from Ravana's rise to the birth of Prince Rama and his 14-year exile with Sita and Lakshmana. It runs 195 minutes. Ranbir Kapoor plays Rama, Sai Pallavi plays Sita, and Yash plays Ravana in his Hindi cinema debut. Prime Focus Studios produced it with DNEG, alongside Yash's Monster Mind Creations.

The makers have also released a featurette, 'The Making of Ravana'. In it, Namit Malhotra explains why they chose Yash, and Yash describes friends' questions about playing a character traditionally seen as the antagonist. Director Nitesh Tiwari says Ravana cannot be seen as a simple villain.

Part 2 moves to 2028

In an interview with E! News, Namit Malhotra said the next part will not release in 2027, as first announced, but in 2028. He said the extra time would let the team deliver the finale in a grand way. He also said the film was first planned as a trilogy, and that the team may reconsider the plan based on audience feedback. Malhotra noted that Part 1 already has two versions with different runtimes.

Indian audiences will be watching how the box office response shapes the decision on a third film. For now, the makers have confirmed only that Part 2 is due in 2028.