One of the most anticipated Indian films of 2026, Ramayana: Part 1 has finally reached cinemas on November 5. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the mythological epic brings together some of the biggest names from Indian cinema to retell one of the country’s most celebrated stories on a grand cinematic scale.
Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash in the lead roles, the film features an extensive ensemble cast of around 33 actors. From familiar faces associated with the original television adaptation of Ramayan to popular stars from different film industries, the casting has become one of the major talking points surrounding the project.
The film is planned as the first instalment of a two-part cinematic adaptation, with the story introducing audiences to the characters and events that shape the epic.
Ramayana: Part 1 – Complete Cast and Characters
Here is a table of the major actors and the characters they portray in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1.
Actor
Character
Ranbir Kapoor
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Lord Rama
Sai Pallavi
Goddess Sita
Yash
Ravana
Sunny Deol
Lord Hanuman
Ravi Dubey
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Lakshman
Arun Govil
King Dasharatha
Lara Dutta
Kaikeyi
Indira Krishnan
Kaushalya
Sonal Jha
Sumitra
Adinath Kothare
Bharata
Nitish Sharma
Shatrughna
Rakul Preet Singh
Shurpanakha
Kajal Aggarwal
Mandodari
Vivek Oberoi
Vidyutjihva
Sheeba Chaddha
Manthara
Kunal Kapoor
Indra Dev
Anupam Kher
Jatayu (voice)
Harish Uthaman
Vibhishana
Faisal Malik
Kumbhakarna
Shobana
Kaikashi
Saurabh Sachdeva
Maricha
Shishir Sharma
Vasishtha
Ajinkya Deo
Vishwamitra
Mukesh Tiwari
Agastya
Sonia Balani
Urmila
Riya Kapoor
Mandavi
Surabhi Das
Shrutakirti
Dishita Sehgal
Young Shurpanakha
Kiara Sadh
Young Sita
Kanchan Chetal
Tataka
Parminder Chaddha
Subahu
Chetan Hansraj
Sumali
Suhail Nayyar
Sugriva
Rajiv Kumar
King Janaka
Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama
Ranbir Kapoor takes on the central role of Lord Rama. The actor’s casting generated considerable discussion when it was announced, given the cultural and emotional significance of the character.
Known for films such as Animal, Brahmastra and Sanju, Ranbir now steps into a mythological role that demands a different screen presence. His portrayal is central to the film’s narrative, which explores Rama’s life, values and journey.
Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita
Sai Pallavi plays Goddess Sita, the central female character in the epic. The actress is known for her performances in films across Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam cinema.
Her casting brought considerable interest from audiences, particularly because of her reputation for emotionally expressive performances. In Ramayana, she shares the screen with Ranbir Kapoor as the story introduces the relationship between Rama and Sita.
Yash as Ravana
Kannada superstar Yash portrays Ravana, the powerful king of Lanka and one of the most significant characters in the Ramayana.
After the massive success of the KGF franchise, Yash’s appearance in this ambitious mythological project has become a major attraction. Ravana is a complex figure in the epic, known for his power, knowledge and ambition.
The actor is also associated with the film as a co-producer through Monster Mind Creations.
Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman
Sunny Deol plays Lord Hanuman, whose devotion to Rama makes him one of the most beloved figures in the epic. His powerful screen presence has made the casting particularly exciting for fans.
Ravi Dubey portrays Lakshman, Rama’s younger brother and a devoted companion throughout his journey. The actor’s involvement marks an important big-screen opportunity in his career.
Together, these characters form an essential part of the story’s emotional and narrative foundation.
Arun Govil, Lara Dutta and Other Familiar Faces
The film also brings together several established actors in important supporting roles.
Arun Govil, who became widely recognised for playing Lord Rama in Ramanand Sagar’s iconic television series Ramayan, appears as King Dasharatha. His casting adds a nostalgic connection with the earlier television adaptation.
Lara Dutta plays Kaikeyi, while Indira Krishnan portrays Queen Kaushalya. Sonal Jha appears as Sumitra, completing the important royal family around Rama.
The wider ensemble also includes Shobana as Kaikashi, Sonia Balani as Urmila, Riya Kapoor as Mandavi, Surabhi Das as Shrutakirti and Nitish Sharma as Shatrughna. Several other performers appear in supporting roles connected to the epic’s larger world.
Nitesh Tiwari’s Ambitious Two-Part Ramayana
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios in association with Monster Mind Creations and DNEG.
The project aims to bring the ancient Indian epic to a global cinematic audience through large-scale production, elaborate visual effects and an extensive cast.
The music is another major attraction. Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer has collaborated with A. R. Rahman on the film’s score, bringing together two internationally recognised musical talents.
The first instalment has been released worldwide in theatres on November 5, 2026, in multiple languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. The second part is planned as the continuation of the cinematic adaptation.
Ramayana Part 1: Box Office Expectations
With Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi and Sunny Deol leading the cast, expectations surrounding the film’s opening have been substantial. Advance bookings had reportedly crossed Rs 100 crore worldwide before release, indicating considerable audience interest.
However, advance-booking figures and box-office predictions are not the same as final collections. The film’s actual performance will depend on audience reactions, occupancy and word of mouth over the coming days.
With its ensemble cast, ambitious scale and familiar mythological story, Ramayana: Part 1 is one of the biggest cinematic releases of the year. Its performance will also shape expectations for the second instalment.