Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on August 6 that he would be disappointed if Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana does not win an Oscar. He made the remark at the inauguration of Prime Focus Studio, backed by producer Namit Malhotra.
Referring to the Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash-starrer, Fadnavis said, “I’d be very disappointed with the jury of the Academy Awards if Ramayana doesn’t get an Oscar. It’s not a film of a decade, it’s a film of a millennium.”
His remarks came as the makers of Ramayana recently announced the release plan for the much-awaited mythological film.
Fadnavis had also praised the scale of Ramayana earlier at the four-day Waves Summit 2025 at the Jio Centre in Mumbai. Speaking to Malhotra, he said India was among the world’s oldest storytellers and added, “Our art, drama, and music are very old, and we only wanted to couple it with the latest technology – and I think that’s what you are doing.”
He said he was “amazed” after visiting the pavilion with the Prime Minister and seeing the quality of Ramayana. He added, “I think this is the way we need to tell our stories to the new generation, and I believe what you are setting up will be the best in the globe.”
Release plan announced
Produced by Namit Malhotra and directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the first instalment of Ramayana is set to release in theatres on November 6, 2026, two days before Diwali. The second instalment is expected around Diwali 2027, though an exact release date for Ramayana: Part 2 has not yet been announced.
Sony Pictures announced the date on its official X handle on Wednesday. In its post, the studio described the film as “an epic journey unlike anything seen before” and said the official trailer was for a worldwide theatrical release on November 6.
New English trailer
Along with the release date announcement, the makers also unveiled an English-language trailer that offered another look at the film ahead of its release. Unlike a conventional dubbed trailer, this version featured the characters speaking English lines.
Several social media users speculated that the effect may have been created using Brahma AI, but the makers have not officially confirmed the technology behind the trailer. Malhotra had earlier spoken about using advanced technology to localise Ramayana for audiences across multiple languages.
The trailer, first released in July 2026, opens with Yash’s Ravana declaring himself the ruler of all three worlds before unleashing destruction across the land. Lord Vishnu then takes the avatar of Ram to restore balance.
The footage introduces Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, shown protecting his people before marrying Sita, played by Sai Pallavi. The story then turns to Ram being sentenced to 14 years of vanvaas, or exile. Sita and Lakshman, played by Ravie Dubey, accompany him into exile before Ravana abducts Sita, setting up the central conflict between good and evil.
Ranbir Kapoor on adapting the epic
Speaking earlier to The Direct, Ranbir Kapoor said adapting one of India’s most revered epics into two films had been difficult. “To be honest, to tell Ramayana, you probably need a 10-part movie, but the kind of conciseness in two parts was very hard,” he said.
He also rejected the idea that the epic needed a modern reinterpretation to connect with present-day audiences. “I don’t think a story like Ramayana needs that. I think the text has stayed over 4,000 years. Lord Rama has been the conscious gatekeeper of millions of people around the world, and I think everything that it talks about courage, good over evil, rightfulness, forgiveness, compassion, ego it’s a life lesson,” he said.
Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, with Ravie Dubey playing Lakshman.
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