Ramayana Part 1 Cast: Every Actor and Character in Ranbir Kapoor's Epic
Complete guide to the Ramayana Part 1 cast, from Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita to Yash as Ravana and Sunny Deol as Hanuman, plus the Diwali 2026 release details and what remains unconfirmed.
Ramayana: Part 1 is shaping up to be the defining Indian theatrical event of 2026. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and headlined by Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, the two-part mythological epic released its first full trailer on July 30, 2026, and is now headed for a Diwali theatrical debut. With months of casting speculation settled by the trailer, this guide covers every officially announced actor and character, separates confirmed roles from ones still undisclosed, and explains who each figure is in the Ramayana so the cast list carries real meaning. All details were checked on 2026-08-03.
Ramayana Part 1 Cast at a Glance
Before the cast breakdown, here are the key facts verified so far:
- Title: Ramayana: Part 1
- Director: Nitesh Tiwari, known for Dangal and Chhichhore India Today
- Producers: Namit Malhotra under Prime Focus Studios, with DNEG and Yash's Monster Mind Creations The Indian Express
- Genre: Mythological epic, filmed for IMAX
- Music: Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman Gulte
- Release: Part 1 in theatres on Diwali 2026, Part 2 on Diwali 2027 Wikipedia
- Reported budget: Around ₹4,000 crore combined across both parts Wikipedia
The Complete Cast and Characters
The trailer, released on July 30, settled most of the casting speculation. The makers unveiled it in five languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam Business Standard. Here is every actor and character confirmed so far:
| Actor | Character | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ranbir Kapoor | Lord Rama | The epic's hero, an avatar of Vishnu, known for his devotion to dharma |
| Sai Pallavi | Sita | Rama's consort, whose abduction by Ravana sets the war in motion |
| Yash | Ravana | The ten-headed king of Lanka and the film's antagonist |
| Sunny Deol | Hanuman | Rama's most powerful and devoted ally |
| Ravi Dubey | Lakshmana | Rama's loyal younger brother who joins him in exile |
| Arun Govil | King Dasharatha | Rama's father and the king of Ayodhya |
| Indira Krishnan | Kaushalya | Rama's mother |
| Lara Dutta | Kaikeyi | Dasharatha's wife whose boons force Rama into exile |
| Sonal Jha | Sumitra | Mother of Lakshmana and Shatrughna |
| Sheeba Chaddha | Manthara | Kaikeyi's maid who engineers Rama's exile |
| Rakul Preet Singh | Shurpanakha | Ravana's sister, whose encounter with Rama and Lakshmana sparks the conflict |
| Kajal Aggarwal | Mandodari | Ravana's wife |
| Shobana | Kaikasi | Ravana's mother |
| Vivek Oberoi | Vidyutjihva | Shurpanakha's husband, a demon prince |
| Kunal Kapoor | Indra Dev | The king of the gods |
The cast and character mapping above is based on the trailer reveal and trade coverage Khaleej Times, Zee News.
The Leads: Rama, Sita and Ravana
Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama
Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, the Maryada Purushottam and the spiritual heart of the epic. His first look was revealed in April 2026, and the full trailer showcased his calm, radiant interpretation of the exiled prince. Kapoor has spoken about how the role changed his own understanding of the story after he became a father, describing the epic's blend of spirituality, complexity and simplicity Times Now. The casting drew both praise and criticism after the early glimpses, and Kapoor addressed the backlash directly during the film's San Diego Comic-Con panel Outlook India.
Sai Pallavi as Sita
Sai Pallavi plays Mata Sita, whose kidnapping by Ravana drives the great war that forms the climax of the epic. Trailer reactions widely praised her simple, grounded portrayal, with viewers describing her as fitting the role of Sita Bhaskar English. A section of the audience did question the Hindi dialogue delivery of some actors, a point of online debate rather than any official criticism.
Yash as Ravana
Yash plays Ravana, the learned and powerful king of Lanka, and the part has become the most discussed element of the trailer. Early reactions highlighted his fierce screen presence as the standout of the footage Bhaskar English. Yash also co-produces the film under his Monster Mind Creations banner, making this one of his most closely watched projects since KGF The Indian Express.
The Royal Family of Ayodhya
Arun Govil, who played Rama in the iconic 1987 television series Ramayan, returns to the epic as King Dasharatha, Rama's father Financial Express. Indira Krishnan plays Queen Kaushalya and Lara Dutta plays Kaikeyi, whose demand for her son Bharata's coronation and Rama's exile sets the central conflict in motion. Sonal Jha completes the queens as Sumitra, while Sheeba Chaddha plays Manthara, the maid who persuades Kaikeyi to act Khaleej Times. Ravi Dubey plays Lakshmana, Rama's devoted younger brother who insists on joining the exile.
Adinath Kothare is part of the announced cast, and Financial Express has reported that he plays Bharata, though the role has not been officially confirmed by the makers Financial Express.
The Court of Lanka
On the opposing side, Kajal Aggarwal plays Mandodari, Ravana's wife, and veteran Malayalam actress Shobana plays his mother Kaikasi Khaleej Times. Rakul Preet Singh plays Shurpanakha, Ravana's sister, whose insult at the hands of Lakshmana escalates into the abduction of Sita. Vivek Oberoi plays Vidyutjihva, Shurpanakha's husband, whose brief but striking appearance in the trailer drew attention Khaleej Times.
Hanuman and the Divine Roles
Sunny Deol plays Lord Hanuman, the loyal warrior-devotee whose strength and devotion make him Rama's most trusted ally in the war against Ravana. Kunal Kapoor plays Indra Dev, the king of the gods India Today. The first glimpse released in 2025 also gave a brief look at the divine forces who set Rama's journey in motion Gulte.
Creative Team and Production Details
The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari from a story rooted in Valmiki's Ramayana. Namit Malhotra produces under Prime Focus Studios, the company behind Oscar-winning VFX house DNEG, which is handling the film's visual effects Wikipedia. The screenplay has been credited to Shridhar Raghavan Gulte. Cinematography is split between Pankaj Kumar and Mahesh Limaye, with Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman composing the music Wikipedia.
For global distribution, the makers partnered with Sony Pictures Entertainment, a move producer Namit Malhotra said would take the epic worldwide like a major Hollywood release India TV. In India, Dharma Productions has reportedly acquired the theatrical distribution rights India Today. The production is being shot for IMAX, and IMAX itself flagged Ramayana: Part 1 as a key local-language title for its 2026 slate Box Office Worldwide.
Release Date and Trailer
Ramayana: Part 1 is scheduled for a theatrical release during Diwali 2026, with Part 2 following on Diwali 2027 Wikipedia. The exact date has been reported differently across outlets, with Wikipedia listing 6 November 2026 and several others citing 5 November, so it is safest to treat early November as the confirmed window until the makers announce the final date.
The trailer premiered worldwide on July 30, 2026 at 4:15 AM IST, timed to Brahma Muhurat, as announced by producer Namit Malhotra India TV. The trailer was also attached to screenings of Spider-Man: Brand New Day in Indian cinemas. Before the trailer, the film's first look was presented at San Diego Comic-Con on July 23, making it the second Indian film showcased at the event after Kalki 2898 AD Cinema Express.
What Remains Unconfirmed
A few details are still open. The exact theatrical date has not been locked by the makers across all sources, some announced actors do not yet have officially confirmed characters, and the runtime, certification and OTT plans have not been disclosed. The reported budget of around ₹4,000 crore across both parts and the Dharma Productions distribution deal are based on trade reporting rather than official confirmation.
Information last checked on 2026-08-03. Cast announcements, release dates and availability details can change, so check back for updates as the Diwali release approaches.