The first trailer of Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’ has finally been unveiled, offering audiences their first detailed look at Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana, and Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita. While the visuals and scale of the film have generated significant buzz, one noticeable absence has become a major talking point among fans Sunny Deol, who has been cast as Lord Hanuman. Soon after the trailer dropped, social media users began asking why the veteran actor was nowhere to be seen in the promotional video.
Why Lord Hanuman doesn’t feature in the trailer
Although the makers have not officially explained Sunny Deol’s absence, the storyline of the epic offers a possible answer. According to the Valmiki Ramayana, Lord Hanuman enters the narrative only after Sita Haran, when he meets Lord Rama and Lakshmana near Rishyamukha Mountain during their search for Sita.Reports say that ‘Ramayana: Part One’ may conclude around the Sita Haran episode. If that turns out to be the case, Hanuman’s role would naturally become more prominent in the second instalment rather than the first. However, the makers have not officially confirmed where Part One ends.During the film’s recent trailer launch event, Sunny Deol briefly spoke about his experience of joining the ambitious project. The actor indicated that he had only recently started working on the film. His statement has further strengthened speculation that Lord Hanuman’s major portions are likely to be reserved for Ramayana: Part Two.
Celebrities laud the trailer
While fans debated the absence of Hanuman, several celebrities shared enthusiastic reactions to the trailer. Among the first to respond was Bhumi Pednekar, who posted the trailer on her Instagram Stories and wrote, “This is magnificent. Really looking forward to watching this. Ramayana is going to be a global spectacle.”Actor Naveen Polishetty, who previously collaborated with director Nitesh Tiwari on ‘Chhichhore’, also praised the filmmaker, commenting, “Epic. What a journey on this film. Mad respect @niteshtiwari22 sir.” The trailer has also received appreciation from several other members of the film industry including Karan Johar.
Release plans for ‘Ramayana’ and Sunny Deol’s next film
Sunny Deol will next be seen in Batwara 1947, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, which is slated to release in cinemas on August 14, 2026.Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, ‘Ramayana’ features Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, Ravie Dubey, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, and others in pivotal roles. The epic is planned as a two-part cinematic event, with Part One arriving in theatres during Diwali 2026 and Part Two scheduled for Diwali 2027.