Actor Ranbir Kapoor travelled to the United States to unveil the teaser of director Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana before its India release. This move quickly sparked debate on social media. Many people questioned why the makers chose an overseas launch instead of India.
Namit Malhotra Responds to Criticism
Producer Namit Malhotra addressed the criticism at the Mumbai teaser event. The event gave fans their first look at Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama. Namit defended the decision to host early events in Los Angeles and New York. He urged people not to create divisions. He said, “Don’t divide. This is not the time to be divisive. The Indian in the America are thanking and appreciating (us for having an event in the US), you need to understand the emotion of the Indian people over there.” Earlier, Ranbir Kapoor, Nitesh Tiwari, and Namit Malhotra attended promotional events in both cities.
Focus on Global Audience
Namit stressed that the film targets a global audience. He said Indians live across the world, and the team wants to include them. He added, “There are Indians all over the world. We should not be divisive; that’s where we go wrong on Ramayana. There’s no division, it’s one world, one Ramayana and one Rama. The idea is to show it to the entire world. How do we bring awareness? Every Indian knows it (about Ramayana).” He explained that the team wants everyone to know about the story. He also said promotions are difficult during shooting, but the goal is to spread awareness, not just sell tickets.
Director Responds Briefly
When asked why India did not host the first major event, Nitesh Tiwari gave a short reply. He said, “I’ll pass on the message (to the producer).”
Teaser Released on Hanuman Jayanti
The makers released the ‘Rama glimpse’ teaser on Hanuman Jayanti. They launched it in eight cities across India on the same day. Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra attended the Mumbai event. The teaser focused mainly on Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama. It also showed quick glimpses of Sita and Lakshman.
Big Budget and Star Cast
Ramayana is a two-part film with a budget of ₹4000 crore. It is the most expensive Indian film ever and one of the costliest in the world. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The teaser also showed Ravana stepping out of the Pushpak Vimana.
Music and Release Plan
Oscar-winning composers Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman are creating the film’s music. The makers plan to release Ramayana Part One in October 2026. The second part will arrive in 2027.
Mixed Reactions Online
The teaser received mixed reactions online. Some people praised its scale and visuals. Others questioned the decision to launch it overseas first.