Ranbir Kapoor delivers a remarkable performance, portraying the character with grace, dignity, and quiet strength… His composed demeanour, expressive eyes, and effortless screen presence lend the character an aura of divinity (sic),
Taran Adarsh wrote of the lead performance in Ramayana Part 1.
Directed by Nitish Tiwari, the first installment is slated for a theatrical rollout in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam, alongside IMAX formats.
Ranbir Kapoor Leads Star-Studded Cast in Epic Production
Early reviews from Los Angeles and a special screening at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi in August 2026 have brought attention to the scale of the production and the central performances. Ranbir Kapoor stars as Lord Rama. He appears alongside Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as the antagonist Ravana. Sunny Deol steps into the role of Hanuman, while Ravi Dubey plays Lakshman.
Taran Adarsh shared a non-spoiler critique on social media ahead of the Friday silver screen debut. His evaluation detailed the work of the primary cast members without spoiling specific plot turns. The director’s vision blends grand scale with dramatic and devotional elements, featuring notable sequences such as Ravana meeting Lord Brahma and laying claim to Lanka. Additional key portions highlighted in early assessments include Sita’s Swayamvar, alongside an emotional pre-interval segment involving King Dashrath, Kaikeyi, and Lord Rama. The narrative also incorporates the classic confrontation between Ravana and Jatayu aboard the Pushpaka Vimana during the abduction of Sita.
Adarsh highlighted Sai Pallavi’s portrayal of Sita for bringing emotional depth to the narrative. Her naturalistic performance lends tenderness and warmth to the emotional moments,
he noted on social media. Meanwhile, Yash’s turn as Ravana drew praise for its intensity.
#OneWordReview…#Ramayana: SPECTACULAR. Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐#JaiShriRam… You haven't witnessed anything as MAGNIFICENT on the #Indian screen before… Scale. Visuals. Emotions. And SOUL – #Ramayana has it all… A truly STUNNING cinematic experience. #RamayanaReview Does… pic.twitter.com/b9WVJEfrgZ
His imposing screen presence and sheer intensity make him a formidable force, lending the antagonist the larger-than-life stature the character demands,
Adarsh stated.
DNEG Delivers Visual Effects for Supporting Cast Ensemble
The studio enlisted the Academy Award-winning visual effects company DNEG to handle the film’s extensive VFX requirements.
The supporting cast features Arun Govil as King Dashrath. Lara Dutta plays Kaikeyi. Sheeba Chaddha appears as Manthara. Kajal Agarwal takes the role of Mandodari. Rakul Preet Singh performs as Shurpanakha, alongside Vivek Oberoi and Kunal Kapoor in key roles.