‘Ramayana’: Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi and the Lineup of Actors Bringing the Epic to Life

Few Indian films in recent memory have assembled a cast as expansive as Nitesh Tiwari's "Ramayana." Produced by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios and co-produced by Yash's Monster Mind Creations, the mythological epic brings together stars from across Indian cinema to bring the timeless story of the Ramayana to the big screen on an unprecedented scale.

Following the unveiling of the film's latest trailer, Variety India breaks down the confirmed cast and the iconic characters they portray.

The Kingdom of Ayodhya

Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Lord Parshuram

Ranbir Kapoor headlines the film as Lord Ram, the prince of Ayodhya and the central figure of the epic. The actor will also portray Lord Parshuram, the warrior sage and the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu, making it a rare dual role.

Sai Pallavi as Sita

Sai Pallavi stars as Sita, the princess of Mithila and Lord Ram's wife. Her abduction by Ravana sets in motion the epic's central conflict.

Ravie Dubey as Lakshman

Ravie Dubey portrays Lakshman, Lord Ram's devoted younger brother, who accompanies him throughout his exile and remains one of his fiercest protectors.

Adinath Kothare as Bharat

Marathi actor-filmmaker Adinath Kothare plays Bharat, Lord Ram's younger brother, remembered for his unwavering loyalty and refusal to rule Ayodhya in Ram's absence.

Nitish Sharma as Shatrughan

Nitish Sharma essays Shatrughan, the youngest son of King Dashratha and Queen Sumitra, and the brother of Ram, Lakshman and Bharat.

Arun Govil as King Dashratha

Arun Govil, whose portrayal of Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar's landmark television adaptation became iconic, returns to the epic as King Dashratha, the ruler of Ayodhya and father of the four princes.

Indira Krishnan as Queen Kaushalya

Indira Krishnan plays Queen Kaushalya, Dashratha's first queen and the mother of Lord Ram.

Lara Dutta as Queen Kaikeyi

Lara Dutta portrays Queen Kaikeyi, whose demand that Dashratha honor two long-promised boons ultimately leads to Ram's exile.

Sonal Jha as Queen Sumitra

Sonal Jha appears as Queen Sumitra, the mother of Lakshman and Shatrughan.

Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara

Sheeba Chaddha takes on the role of Manthara, Kaikeyi's confidante, whose influence alters the course of the kingdom and the epic itself.

The Golden Lanka

Yash as Ravana

Yash stars as Ravana, the powerful king of Lanka and the epic's principal antagonist. The actor is also co-producing the film through Monster Mind Creations.

Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari

Kajal Aggarwal portrays Mandodari, Ravana's queen, known in the epic for her wisdom and repeated attempts to persuade him to abandon his destructive path.

Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha

Rakul Preet Singh plays Surpanakha, Ravana's sister, whose encounter with Lord Ram and Lakshman becomes the catalyst for the conflict between Ayodhya and Lanka.

Shobana as Kaikesi

Veteran actor Shobana essays Kaikesi, Ravana's mother and the daughter of the Rakshasa king Sumali.

Chetan Hansraj as Sumali

Chetan Hansraj portrays Sumali, Ravana's maternal grandfather, who plays a pivotal role in the rise of Lanka's Rakshasa dynasty.

Harish Uthaman as Vibhishan 

Harish Uthaman plays Vibhishan, Ravana's brother who plays a very pivotal part in the big war. 

Faisal Malik as Kumbhakarna

Faisal Malik appears as Kumbhakarna, Ravana's giant brother, celebrated for his immense strength and legendary slumber.

Vivek Oberoi as Vidyutjihva

Vivek Oberoi takes on the role of Vidyutjihva, Surpanakha's husband.

Lord Ram's Allies

Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman

Sunny Deol plays Lord Hanuman, the devoted disciple of Lord Ram and one of the most revered figures in the Ramayana.

Suhail Nayyar as Sugriva

Suhail Nayyar portrays Sugriva, the Vanara king who forges a crucial alliance with Lord Ram in his quest to rescue Sita.

Anupam Kher as Jatayu

Anupam Kher plays Jatayu, the noble vulture king who sacrifices his life while attempting to stop Ravana from abducting Sita.

Sages and Divine Figures

Ajinkya Deo as Sage Vishwamitra

Ajinkya Deo portrays Sage Vishwamitra, whose guidance shapes Lord Ram's early journey and leads him to Mithila.

Shishir Sharma as Sage Vashishtha

Shishir Sharma appears as Sage Vashishtha, the royal guru of Ayodhya and spiritual guide to the Ikshvaku dynasty.

Mukesh Tiwari as Agastya Muni

Mukesh Tiwari essays the revered sage Agastya Muni, who blesses and guides Lord Ram during his years in exile.

Kunal Kapoor as Lord Indra

Kunal Kapoor takes on the role of Lord Indra, the king of the Devas in Hindu mythology.

Other Key Characters

Saurabh Sachdeva as Maricha   

Saurabh Sachdeva plays Maricha, who takes the form of the deceptive golden deer whose actions trigger Sita's abduction and set the epic battle between Rama and Ravana in motion.

Surabhi Das as Urmila

Surabhi Das portrays Urmila, Lakshman's wife, whose quiet sacrifice has gained renewed attention in contemporary retellings of the epic.

Satyen Chaturvedi as Sumantra

Satyen Chaturvedi plays Sumantra, King Dashratha's trusted minister and charioteer.

Kanchan Chetan as Tadaka

Kanchan Chetan essays Tadaka, the demoness slain by Lord Ram during one of his earliest battles under Sage Vishwamitra's guidance.

Parminder Chadha as Subahu

Parminder Chadha portrays Subahu, the Rakshasa who, along with Maricha, disrupts Sage Vishwamitra's yajna before being defeated by Lord Ram.

Bringing together performers from the Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam and television industries, "Ramayana" boasts one of the largest ensemble casts assembled for an Indian film. From the royal family of Ayodhya and the rulers of Lanka to revered sages, celestial beings and devoted allies, the film's casting reflects the scale of a story that has shaped Indian culture for centuries and remains one of the country's most enduring literary and spiritual epics. "Ramayana" is scheduled to hit the big screen in Diwali 2026.