Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’ continues to be one of the most anticipated Indian films in recent years. Headlined by Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Yash as Ravana, the ambitious mythological saga has generated massive buzz ever since it was announced. Adding to the excitement, actor Kajal Aggarwal, who essays the role of Mandodari, recently shared insights into her experience of working on the film. Kajal described the scale and technical sophistication of the project, calling it unlike anything she has previously worked on.”The experience was so different because it’s a technically superior production. It’s just something India has never witnessed before. And as actors, it’s pretty much the first time that we’re doing something like this. It is an intrinsically Indian story and it’s so close to our hearts,” she said in an interview with Variety India. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film boasts a star-studded cast. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama and Lord Parshurama, while Sai Pallavi portrays Sita. Ravie Dubey takes on the role of Lakshman, Sunny Deol plays Lord Hanuman, Arun Govil appears as King Dashrath, and Yash steps into the role of Ravana.The two-part epic is being produced by Yash and Namit Malhotra under the banners of Prime Focus Studios and Monster Mind Creations. The project is widely regarded as the most expensive film venture ever mounted in India. According to reports, the combined cost of both instalments is estimated to be around Rs 4,000 crore ($500 million), placing it among the costliest productions globally.Earlier this year, the makers unveiled the teaser of ‘Ramayana’, offering audiences their first glimpse of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Yash as Ravana. While the teaser sparked considerable excitement, it also faced criticism from some viewers over its visual effects. A section of social media users additionally questioned Ranbir’s suitability for the role.Previously, producer Namit Malhotra spoke about the film’s global ambitions in an interview with Collider. Comparing the scale of the project with some of the biggest international franchises, he said, “It is not just India; this is a production that maps any big, large-scale project in the world at this time. So it is fair to say that we are shoulder to shoulder with anything out there. That being said, whether it’s Lord of the Rings or Avatar, it is important to note that Ramayana actually precedes a lot of these global IPs and global epics. It’s meant to give you the same sense of scale and epic like The Lord of the Rings, but it’s supposed to have the same heart and the same journey as Avatar.”The first instalment of ‘Ramayana’ is slated to hit theatres during Diwali 2026, while the second part is scheduled for release on Diwali 2027.
