Ranbir Kapoor-Sai Pallavi's Ramayana may not be deriving its entire material from the Ramayana written by Sage Valmiki. Currently, actor Yash is participating in a shooting schedule in Mumbai. On a set, a Swayamvaram episode is being shot. This production update can only mean one thing: Yash's Ravana is present in the formal event where candidates (including Rama) compete to prove their worth to the bride (Sita).
But is this not a violation of Valmiki's telling of the story? Yes. But in several regional and folk versions of the Ramayana, Ravana is depicted as a participant in the Swayamvaram. While the Valmiki Ramayana (the most widely known version) does not place Ravana at the contest in Mithila, other prominent retellings include him to highlight his arrogance or his rivalry with Rama. In the Ramcharitmanas (by Tulsidas) and the Ananda Ramayana, Ravana attends King Janaka's court to compete for Sita's hand.
The first part of Ramayana will hit the cinemas for Diwali 2026. Its budget is estimated to be anywhere from Rs 1600-2000 Cr. The budget of the second part is also in the same range.
