'Ramayana': Ranbir Kapoor’s look as Lord Rama out, Nitesh Tiwari says film took 7 years to make
Mumbai (PTI): Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor's first look as Lord Rama from producer Namit Malhotra's "Ramayana", one of the most ambitious cinematic events in the history of Indian cinema, was unveiled on Thursday.
The makers released a two-minute-38-second teaser titled 'Rama' on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, offering audiences their first glimpse into Lord Rama's world, from the battlefields to the grand palaces and dense forests, with Kapoor donning royal robes adorned with heavy gold jewellery as the king and warrior of Ayodhya.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, best known for "Dangal" and "Chhichhore", the film has been seven years in the making.
"To reach till this moment, it has personally taken me seven years. Filmmaking is a speculative and lonely process. Every moment of these seven years, I've imagined this moment as to what the reaction would be when it comes out.
"Today, looking at your reaction, I feel the seven years are worth those seven years. A lot of people have worked on this film. We hope we get much love from you all," Tiwari said at a promotional event.
The filmmaker said he was aware of the audience's emotional attachment with “Ramayana” and added that the team has tried to be as “authentic” as possible.
“...You understand the sensitivity and attachment (for ‘Ramayana’), you keep those things in mind. We’ve taken care in portraying Lord Rama, it’s very authentic is what I feel,” the director said.
The film also features “KGF” star Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lord Lakshman.
"Ramayana" is produced by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios and DNEG, in association with Yash's Monster Mind Creations.
A two-part live-action saga rooted in one of Indian mythology's most enduring epics, the film draws on the full might of DNEG, one of the world's leading visual effects studios, with eight Academy Awards for films including "Inception", "Interstellar", "Dune" and "Dune: Part Two".
Malhotra, who is the CEO of DNEG, described it as a “special moment”.
“We’ve made this (film) with a lot of love. Before you let it go, there’s a feeling of wanting to keep it, and we are like, ‘Are we ready to share it?’ Thanks to Nitesh and the team who have worked hard to put this labour of love.
"I’m proud of what we’ve put out. I hope you all have loved it. You don’t pick ‘Ramayana’, ‘Ramayana’ picks you,” said Malhotra.
He said the aim behind the movie is to introduce the story of the mythological epic and Lord Rama to the world.
“There are Indians all over the world. We should not be divisive that’s where we go wrong on ‘Ramayana’... It’s one world, one ‘Ramayana’ and one Rama. The idea is to show it to the entire world," he added.
The team had earlier held a grand event in Los Angeles that was attended by Malhotra, Tiwari and Kapoor.
Asked about the reason for holding an event in the US, Malhotra said, “The Indians in the America are thanking and appreciating, you need to understand the emotion of the Indian people over there.”
While post-production is underway for part one of “Ramayana”, Malhotra said filming for part two is already in progress, largely taking place indoors due to the heavy use of visual effects.
In a statement, Kapoor said the experience has been humbling.
"I don't think I'm here to represent Rama. I'm here to learn from him. There is a simplicity and purity to him that is very rare; and trying to understand and imbibe that has been a deeply humbling experience," the actor said.
The first part of “Ramayana” is slated to release worldwide in IMAX during Diwali 2026, with part two following in Diwali 2027.
The film’s crew includes renowned international artists, including Oscar-winning composers Hans Zimmer and A R Rahman, who are collaborating on the score.
The action sequences are choreographed by Hollywood stunt veterans Terry Notary and Guy Norris, and the film’s visual world is being shaped by production designers Ravi Bansal of “Dune: Part Two” fame and Ramsey Avery as “Captain America”.
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If I've to prove my worth and value, that place is not for me: Kohli
New Delhi (PTI): Virat Kohli still loves the game enough to be focussed on playing next year's World Cup but the star India batter also makes it clear that if his worth is constantly called into question in a certain "environment", he would accept that the "place is not meant" for him.
Speaking on his IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru's podcast, the 37-year-old superstar said he detests constant change of positions as far as the judgement on his value is concerned.
"I am always ready because that's my daily life. You know, I work out, we eat well at home. It is because I like living that way. It is not only to play cricket. So that is where I am. I mean, this 27 (2027 World Cup) chat and all that...I've been asked so many times, 'do you want to play 27?'," he said.
"I know the answer. Like, why would I leave my home, you know, get my stuff over and be like, I don't know what I want. Of course, if I'm playing, I want to play cricket. I want to carry on. Playing a World Cup for India is amazing. But as I said, the value has to be two sides," he asserted.
"My perspective is very clear. If I can add value to the environment that I am part of, and the environment feels that I can add value, I will be seen. If I am made to feel like I need to prove my worth and my value, I am not in that space," said Kohli, who is counted among the greats of the game.
Kohli only plays the ODI format now after quitting T20 Internationals in 2024 and Tests in 2025. With ODI schedule shrinking considerably in the past few years, Kohli's India appearances are now scarce.
The next series he is likely to feature in is the away three-match assignment against England from July 14 to July 19. Despite his desire to be a part of the team, India head coach Gautam Gambhir has been largely non-committal on what the future holds for both Kohli and another ODI great Rohit Sharma.
Kohli said he would be around till he is wanted in the set-up.
"I am being honest to my preparations, I am being honest to how I approach the game. I put my head down, I work hard. When I arrive to play, I work as hard if not harder than anyone else and I play the game in the right way," he added.
Giving an insight into his approach towards the game, Kohli said he is always prepared for the grind even as a fielder expected to "run boundary to boundary for 40 overs".
"I will do that because I prepare accordingly. I am prepared that I will field 50 overs. After operating in this way, if I have to prove my worth and value, that place is not meant to be for me," he said.
Kohli cited his return to Vijay Hazare Trophy after two decades during the 2025-26 season. He turned up in two games for Delhi and smacked a hundred in one of them besides becoming the fastest to reach 16,000 List A runs.
"I was very clear in my head that I am not going out there to prove anything to anyone. I am going there to play because I love playing the game. That's how I played Vijay Hazare as well. It was amazing.
"I thought I have played for so long, do I have the motivation? But the moment my intention switched to 'I want to play because I love the game', I just loved batting. I felt like a child again. I was like this is not about anyone, this is about me and the game," he explained.
Considered among the greatest ODI batters of all time, Kohli has 14,797 runs in 311 matches at an average of 58.71. He has amassed 54 centuries and 77 fifties during his ODI journey and has earned the moniker 'chase master' for his ability to deliver under pressure.
'Don't complicate things'
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Kohli said he finds his joy in playing but not in an environment where questions are raised after selection.
"The moment I feel like people are trying to complicate it for me and be like 'oh this and that'. Either be clear and honest and upfront or be quiet and let me play. If you go to a workplace and people say we believe in your abilities and a week later they start questioning the way you operate, it's like why?" he elaborated.
"Either tell me on day one that I am not good enough or I am not needed but if you have said that I am good enough and that we are not thinking otherwise, then be quiet. If you start operating up and down because of results, you can never have a consistent stance," he said.
