Ramayana: Rise of a Legend shows Sai Pallavi as warrior Sita, reveals 10,000-strong crew

Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Rise of a Legend is gearing up for its theatrical release on 5 November, with the makers releasing fresh footage that offers a closer look at the film’s characters, action sequences and production scale.

Producer Namit Malhotra, director Nitesh Tiwari and actor Ranbir Kapoor feature in a new promotional video discussing the ambitious adaptation of the Hindu epic. Malhotra revealed that more than 10,000 people from around the world are working on the project, underlining the scale of the production.

The film stars Ranbir as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The first instalment is scheduled to arrive in cinemas worldwide on 5 November, coinciding with Diwali, while the second part is planned for Diwali 2027.

New footage showcases Sita’s warrior avatar and Ravana’s tandav

The latest glimpse features Ranbir as Ram standing on a mountain against the rising sun. Yash appears as Ravana performing the tandav in front of a large statue of Lord Shiva, while Jatayu is shown in his full form.

Sai Pallavi’s Sita is seen fighting demons in a warrior-like avatar, offering a glimpse of the action sequences in the film. The footage also briefly introduces Kunal Kapoor as Indra, wielding his thunderbolt, the Vajra.

The promotional material depicts Ram and Ravana overcoming obstacles on their respective journeys, although their motivations differ. The filmmakers shared the footage with a message inviting audiences to hear Malhotra, Tiwari and Ranbir discuss their efforts to bring Ramayana to the big screen.

Namit Malhotra explains the scale of the epic

The promotional video opens with Ranbir saying, “Ramayana. Let’s see it in the best way possible.”

Malhotra describes the project as a “life-sized epic”, highlighting its depth of character, emotional storytelling and spectacle. He says the film has something for everyone, while Tiwari points to themes that audiences across the world could relate to.

“People from around the world would be able to connect with it,” the director says, citing a compelling father-son relationship, an underdog story and a brave love story among its central elements.

Malhotra explains that the opportunity to make Ramayana was one he felt the team had to pursue. “Some films don’t get made, they happen,” he says.

Ranbir credits the producer with assembling the cast and crew and providing the scale and creative opportunity required for the project. He describes such an opportunity as rare in the film industry.

Malhotra then reveals the size of the production team, saying, “Just to give people a sense of numbers, we have over 10,000 people on this film worldwide.”

Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman compose the music

Ramayana: Rise of a Legend features a score by Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman, bringing together two internationally recognised composers for the large-scale adaptation.

The film is reportedly being made on a budget of around ₹4,000 crore. It is being produced by Malhotra, whose visual effects company, DNEG, has worked on major international productions.

The official film synopsis describes a story centred on Rama, a prince bound by sacrifice, and Ravana, an immortal king driven by vengeance, whose destinies are linked by prophecy.

The production is part of a two-film adaptation, with the first instalment scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on 5 November and the second planned for Diwali 2027. The makers have also begun an international promotional campaign to introduce the epic to audiences beyond India.