Namit Malhotra claims Ramayana is ‘Avatar meets Gladiator in the world of Lord of the Rings’
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
One of the highly anticipated movies of the year is Ranbir Kapoor - starrer Ramayana. The movie, which arrives in theatres in Diwali 2026, has been the talk of the tinsel town since its inception. Today, the grand trailer of the mythological epic was unveiled at brahma muhurat, and since then, it has become a trending topic. At the recent San Diego Comic-Con 2026 trailer launch, actors Ranbir Kapoor , Yash, along with director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra explained to Fandom why Ramayana is a story that will resonate with people all over the world irrespective of their experience with Indian cinema.
Adding to this, Namit Malhotra explains why Ramayana is India's biggest cinematic spectacle: 'It will entertain and enlighten'. Namit Malhotra compares Ramayana to Hollywood blockbusters When the interviewer admitted never having seen an Indian movie, the cast first asked about their favourite movies. While explaining the scale and vision behind Ramayana, producer Namit Malhotra compared the movie to some of Hollywood's biggest fantasy and action spectacles, while stressing that its biggest strength lies in its emotional storytelling.
Meanwhile, He shared, “Ramayana is like Avatar meets gladiator in the world of Lord of the Rings like so if you can put that together. Lord Vishnu, who's the protector of all life, he has to come as an avatar to bring balance and restore life back.”
Notably, He further explained, “So god descends as a human and goes through his life in a in a human form to really understand how humans feel ultimately to fulfil their duty. Then it's mounted in the back of this massive spectacle woven into the fabric of the screenplay. It's all about emotions. The underdog story of sacrifice, of revenge and absolutely cutting edge execution. It's a story which not only is going to entertain you but also going to enlighten you.”
As per the latest buzz, The trailer begins with Yash's Ravana dominating his kingdom. He shows his power and menacing avatar. Then, the story moves on to see Lord Vishnu take the guise of Lord Rama. Arun Govil stars as King Dashrath and introduces Rama, who promises to protect humans at the expense of his life. The trailer then shows the important events of Ramayana including the marriage between Rama and Sita, their 14 years' period of exile, and Sita's kidnapping. The trailer's pivotal scene comes when Lord Rama tells Lakshman that he will do everything to rescue Sita, by saying, “If Ravana is the king of three worlds, then he will have to face his death in the three worlds.”
In further updates, Ramayana: Part One stars Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, Ravi Dubey, Vivek Oberoi, Saurabh Sachdeva and Rakul Preet Singh, among others. The first installment is set for a worldwide theatrical rollout on November 8 during Diwali, while the second part will arrive in 2027.
On top of that, Monica Yadav is a senior entertainment journalist with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Mumbai, with nearly 11 years of experience covering Bollywood, Hollywood and Asian entertainment, including Korean, Chinese and Thai cinema, television and music. She is among the few Indian journalists in India with a dedicated focus on Korean entertainment, including K-pop and K-dramas, and has interviewed some of the industry's biggest stars while closely tracking the rise of global pop culture. Her reporting has also taken her beyond India, where she has covered travel, culture and entertainment. Alongside her work at Hindustan Times, her bylines have appeared in several international publications. Known for her in-depth interviews, feature stories and engaging storytelling, Monica enjoys exploring the human side of entertainment. From breaking news and long-form features to music coverage, explainers and on-camera conversations with artists, she is passionate about telling stories that connect with audiences across the world. Read More
Source: Hindustan Times