Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana trailer to drop on July 24 months after VFX, AI backlash; fans await Sai Pallavi & Yash’s looks

Bollywood is pinning its hopes on Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana after the last six months saw absolutely no film even close to crossing Rs 100 crore, with Bollywood struggling at the box office. The last hit was Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna.

When the first look of Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana was dropped, it received a lot of flak for its VFX and overuse of AI, especially the backdrop, which many felt looked AI-generated. The CGI, too, appeared to have been created using AI tools, when real locations could have been used for outdoor sequences, or sets could have been created for Ramayana. The fact that major scenes were shot on a green screen did not go down well with moviegoers. The makers addressed the criticism, took it in their stride and assured fans they would rework the visuals to meet audiences’ expectations and not disappoint them.

With director Nitesh Tiwari bringing the epic to the big screen, expectations are sky-high. And now, all eyes are on the film’s next major promotional release, which promises a much deeper look at its ambitious world.

Earlier reports had suggested that the trailer would arrive on July 18. However, the makers have now confirmed July 24 as the official release date.

The makers have officially announced that the theatrical trailer of Ramayana will be unveiled on July 24. The new promo is expected to showcase the film’s scale, storytelling and visual spectacle in greater detail ahead of its Diwali release.

The official announcement on Saturday read, “FROM BHARAT TO THE WORLD. For thousands of years, the Ramayana has inspired generations through its timeless ideals of dharma, maryada, courage and compassion. Now, it begins a new journey. One of Bharat’s greatest civilisational epics, presented to the world at a scale never attempted before in Indian cinema. THE RAMAYANA TRAILER PREMIERES WORLDWIDE ON 24TH JULY.”

The first teaser gave a glimpse of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and traces of Ayodhya and Lanka. Earlier reports had suggested that the trailer would arrive on July 18. Sai Pallavi’s look as Mata Sita and Yash’s look as Ravana are still under wraps.

The makers of Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana have launched a first-of-its-kind nationwide school outreach campaign to introduce young audiences to the epic beyond the big screen. Starting July 9, the initiative will cover over 400 schools across 18 cities and is expected to reach more than 5 lakh students. Under the theme “Hamara Satya. Hamara Itihaas.”, children will participate in drawing competitions, quizzes, creative activities and interactive discussions designed to help them connect with the values and stories of the Ramayana alongside their families.

Speaking about the initiative, the makers said, “Ramayana has lived on for generations through stories, values and shared memory. With this school outreach initiative, our endeavour is to take that legacy to young minds in an engaging and meaningful way. As we build towards bringing Ramayana to the big screen, we wanted children to experience the epic not just as mythology they have heard of, but as a story of courage, duty, love and righteousness that continues to inspire even today.”

Ramayana is set to make its global debut at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2026. The panel is scheduled for July 23, 2026, at 3:15 PM PDT (3:15 AM IST on July 24) in Ballroom 20, the convention’s second-largest venue with a seating capacity of approximately 4,800 attendees. The presentation will feature producer Namit Malhotra, director Nitesh Tiwari, and lead stars Ranbir Kapoor (Lord Ram) and Yash (Ravana).

The official SDCC listing describes the film as: “In an age of gods and kings, the fate of worlds hangs in the balance. Rama, a prince bound by duty, sacrifice and the greater good, must face Ravana, an immortal ruler driven by pride and vengeance, powerful enough to shatter the cosmos.”

Meet the cast

The film is produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. Apart from Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, the cast also includes Sunny Deol, Ravi Dubey, Rakul Preet Singh and several others in pivotal roles.