Mumbai: Telugu superstar Nagarjuna Akkineni has praised the trailer of Nitesh Tiwari’s much-awaited Ramayana, calling it “brilliant” and applauding the performances of Ranbir Kapoor and Yash. His reaction comes as anticipation continues to build around the ambitious two-part adaptation of the Indian epic, which is scheduled for a Diwali 2026 release.
The film has generated considerable attention because of its scale, star cast and international ambitions. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Ram, while Yash takes on the role of Ravana and Sai Pallavi portrays Sita. The project is being directed by Nitesh Tiwari, with Namit Malhotra backing the production.
Nagarjuna’s appreciation adds to the growing industry buzz around the film after its trailer was unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con. The trailer has since attracted attention across different language markets, with viewers particularly discussing Yash’s portrayal of Ravana and the visual scale of the production.
Nagarjuna praises the trailer and lead actors
Nagarjuna’s comments come at a time when Ramayana is becoming one of the most closely watched Indian films ahead of its theatrical release.
The veteran actor reportedly described the trailer as “brilliant” while praising both Ranbir Kapoor and Yash. His reaction is significant given his standing in the Telugu film industry and his long association with large-scale commercial and dramatic cinema.
The praise also reflects the cross-industry interest surrounding Ramayana. Although the film is being made primarily as a Hindi-language production, its casting and multilingual presentation have helped it attract attention across India.
Yash, in particular, has become one of the major talking points following the trailer’s release. Recent audience reactions to the Kannada version of the trailer have focused heavily on his commanding appearance as Ravana.
Ranbir’s casting as Ram has similarly remained a major subject of discussion since the project was announced. The film’s director and producer have recently reiterated that Kapoor was their first choice for the role.
Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Ram
Ranbir Kapoor takes on the role of Lord Ram in the film, one of the most demanding and closely scrutinised characters in the adaptation.
The casting has generated significant expectations because Ram is one of the most recognisable figures in Indian cultural and religious tradition. The filmmakers have therefore faced the challenge of creating a cinematic interpretation that is visually ambitious while remaining respectful to the source material.
Recent comments from the film’s team indicate that the makers have been conscious of the responsibility involved in adapting the epic for a contemporary global audience.
Ranbir has also spoken about the enormous scale of the story, saying that the Ramayana could ideally require many instalments to explore its full depth. He has revealed that Ramayana: Part Two is already around 50 per cent complete, indicating that work on the larger two-part project has progressed substantially.
The actor has also stressed that the makers want to remain faithful to the story rather than introduce unnecessary creative changes.
Yash’s Ravana becomes a major talking point
While Ranbir’s portrayal of Ram remains central to the film, Yash’s Ravana has emerged as one of the trailer’s biggest attractions.
The Kannada star is making his Hindi-film debut with the project and has taken on the role of the powerful king of Lanka. His look and screen presence have generated strong reactions from audiences since the trailer was released.
Yash himself has acknowledged the pressure involved in portraying Ravana. At San Diego Comic-Con, he explained that the character has already been interpreted by numerous actors, making it challenging to find an individual approach that audiences will accept.
The actor’s comments highlight one of the central challenges facing the film. Ravana is already deeply established in popular culture, and audiences carry strong visual and dramatic expectations about the character.
The trailer suggests that the filmmakers are positioning Yash’s Ravana as a formidable antagonist rather than simply relying on the actor’s star power.
Sai Pallavi completes the central trio
Sai Pallavi plays Sita in the film, completing the central trio of characters alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Yash.
Her casting has also generated interest, particularly because the role requires a balance between emotional depth and the larger mythological scale of the story.
The film’s principal cast brings together performers from different parts of India’s film industry. Ranbir represents the Hindi film industry, Yash brings significant Kannada cinema popularity, while Sai Pallavi has a strong following across the Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam markets.
This combination is consistent with the makers’ broader attempt to present Ramayana as a pan-Indian and global cinematic project.
Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious adaptation
Nitesh Tiwari, known for films including Dangal and Chhichhore, is directing the ambitious adaptation.
The project has been in development for several years, with the filmmakers repeatedly emphasising its scale and visual ambition. The production is being supported by Prime Focus Studios and associated production companies, with visual effects being handled on a large scale.
The film’s creative team includes cinematographer Pankaj Kumar, while the music and background score involve A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer.
The involvement of internationally recognised technical talent is part of the producers’ effort to take the story beyond the conventional boundaries of Indian cinema.
The English-language trailer has also highlighted the use of AI-powered lip-sync technology known as Brahma AI, which has drawn attention from viewers interested in the film’s international presentation.
Trailer receives attention across languages
The response to Ramayana has not been restricted to its Hindi trailer.
The makers have released versions for different language audiences, including Kannada and English. The Kannada trailer has received particular attention because of Yash’s involvement, with fans praising his appearance and screen presence as Ravana.
The English version, meanwhile, has showcased the film’s technological approach to multilingual presentation. The use of AI-powered lip-sync technology has been promoted as a way to make the performances feel more natural for international audiences.
This multilingual strategy is important for a project based on one of India’s best-known epics. The makers are clearly looking beyond a single domestic market and attempting to make the film accessible to audiences internationally.
Film is planned as a two-part epic
The scale of the Ramayana story has led the makers to divide the adaptation into two parts.
Part One is expected to establish the principal characters and the central conflict, while the second instalment will continue the larger story. The decision allows the filmmakers more time to explore the narrative rather than compressing the epic into a single film.
Ranbir Kapoor recently revealed that work on Part Two is already around 50 per cent complete.
This suggests that the production has been planned as a long-term project rather than a conventional standalone film.
The first instalment is scheduled to arrive around Diwali 2026, making the festive period an important part of the film’s theatrical strategy.
Expectations are rising before release
Nagarjuna’s praise comes as expectations around Ramayana continue to increase.
The film has already attracted attention from actors, filmmakers and audiences because of its cast and production scale. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently expressed strong confidence in the project and said he would be disappointed if it did not win an Oscar, underlining the unusually high expectations surrounding the film.
At the same time, the filmmakers will face the difficult task of meeting expectations from audiences familiar with the Ramayana while also appealing to viewers who may be encountering the story through this new cinematic interpretation.
The scale of the production means the film is likely to be judged not only on performances but also on its visual effects, storytelling, music and treatment of the source material.
Nagarjuna’s reaction adds to the buzz
Nagarjuna’s positive response provides another boost to the film’s growing promotional momentum. His praise for the trailer and the performances of Ranbir Kapoor and Yash comes as the makers continue to introduce the project to audiences across India and overseas.
The response to Yash’s Ravana has been particularly strong, while Ranbir’s portrayal of Ram remains one of the film’s most closely watched aspects.
With the first part scheduled for a Diwali 2026 release and the second part already substantially underway, Ramayana is shaping up as one of the biggest cinematic projects in Indian entertainment.
Ultimately, the film’s success will depend on whether it can combine its enormous production scale with a compelling and respectful interpretation of the epic. For now, however, reactions from industry figures such as Nagarjuna suggest that the trailer has succeeded in generating excitement well ahead of the theatrical release.