‘Ramayana Part 1’ climax will end with Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman reveals, makers eye ‘Baahubali’ style frenzy after 15-minute footage wows exhibitors in Chennai- Report | Hindi Movie News

With the release of Part 1 of ‘Ramayana’ approaching, the anticipation around the ambitious adaptation of Nitesh Tiwari’s epic continues to build. The film’s trailer, released on July 30, gave audiences a first look at Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita and several other key characters. However, one important cast member was noticeably absent from the trailer, Sunny Deol, who plays Lord Hanuman.Now, according to a report by Bollywood Hungama, the makers may be deliberately keeping Sunny’s appearance a secret till the end of the first installment, which could create a huge cliffhanger for the second part of ‘Ramayana’.

Sunny Deol’s Lord Hanuman Reveal Reportedly Saved for Last

According to the report, Sunny Deol will appear only towards the conclusion of Ramayana Part 1. His introduction could be positioned as the final scene of the film or even as a mid- or post-credit sequence. The reported strategy seems designed to generate maximum curiosity around the character and create a theatrical moment that leaves the audience wanting more. A source cited by Bollywood Hungama reportedly compared the approach to the ending of ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’, where the question about Kattappa and Baahubali became a major pop culture talking point ahead of the sequel.If the report is accurate, Sunny Deol’s introduction as Lord Hanuman could also become the big talking point after ‘Ramayana’ Part 1 ends.

Why ‘Ramayana’ Makers Can Keep Sunny Deol’s Hanuman Look A Secret

Sunny Deol’s absence from promotional material so far has naturally generated considerable curiosity. While Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Rakul Preet Singh and other members of the ensemble have featured prominently in the trailer and promotional campaign, Sunny’s portrayal of Lord Hanuman remains largely invisible to the general audience. The decision could be particularly significant given the scale of the project and the expectations surrounding Sunny’s casting. Instead of revealing his appearance beforehand, creators can try to preserve the character’s first appearance as a big-screen reveal. Interestingly, a select group of industry attendees had already caught a glimpse of Sunny Deol as Hanuman during an exclusive look at Ramayana stills at CinemaCon 2026 in Las Vegas earlier this year. According to reports at the time, the images showed the actor in a completely different avatar.

15-minute footage of ‘Ramayana’ impresses exhibitors at Big Cine Expo 2026

The buzz around Ramayana received another boost after the screening of around 15 minutes of unseen footage at the Big Cine Expo 2026 in Chennai. The two-day exhibition event was held on August 18 and 19, with the exclusive launch of Ramayana taking place on the first day. The footage had not been made available to the public and exhibitors were reportedly prohibited from recording the presentation.According to the same publication’s previous report, an exhibitor who attended the screening, the presentation featured several never-before-seen creatures, including a one-eyed daitya and a bear-like creature. The scale and visual effects reportedly left attendees impressed, with one exhibitor describing the film as a potential “global Indian film” and comparing its visual effects to large-scale Hollywood productions such as ‘The Lord of the Rings’.‘The presentation also reportedly functioned in part as a making-of documentary, incorporating comments from producer Namit Malhotra about the scale and ambition of the project. The theatrical trailer, which already premiered on July 30, formed the final part of the presentation.

‘Ramayana’ Release Date: When Will Part 1 Hit Theaters?

‘Ramayana: The Introduction’ is targeting a Diwali 2026 release in India. Producer Namit Malhotra has clarified that the film is expected to release internationally on November 6, 2026, while the Indian theatrical release is scheduled for November 8, 2026, coinciding with Diwali. The two-day difference is reportedly related to international distribution schedules: November 6 falls on a Friday, while Diwali in India falls on November 8 this year. The sequel, Ramayana Part 2, is scheduled for release in Diwali 2027.

Who stars in ‘Ramayana’?

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, Ramayana has a strong cast led by Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The supporting cast includes Rakul Preet Singh, Lara Dutta and other notable actors. The film is being assembled as a two-part saga and is being filmed for IMAX. The music is composed by Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman, while DNEG is responsible for the visual effects.