AI generated summary, newsroom reviewed
Ahead of the Diwali 2026 release of Ramayana: Part One, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, the makers of Nitesh Tiwari's two-part epic have released new character posters introducing Lara Dutta as Queen Kaikeyi and Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara. The stills were posted on social media as part of the ongoing promotional campaign, and spotlight the two characters whose choices set off the conflict within Ayodhya's royal household.
Dutta's poster presents Kaikeyi in a red royal garb, wearing an angry and stricken look. Chaddha's poster shows Manthara in a purple overhead, carrying a walking staff. A conspiratorial look sits on her scheming face.
The accompanying caption describes Kaikeyi as a queen and mother whose two wishes would wound a father's love and alter Rama's destiny, while Manthara is cast as a scheming mind. In the epic, Manthara is Kaikeyi's confidante, whose persuasion pushes the queen to demand boons that lead to Rama's 14-year exile from Ayodhya.
Earlier posters introduced the fim's primary cast including Arun Govil as King Dashrath. Govil had played Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar's iconic 1987 television series Ramayan.
In Tiwari's film, Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi plays Sita, with Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman.
The film is produced by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios together with DNEG and Yash's Monster Mind Creations. The first part is set to release in cinemas worldwide this Diwali, while the sequel is set for Diwali 2027.
The film will release in IMAX in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. Sony Pictures handles the distribution outside India, while Dharma Productions distributes it in the Hindi market.