All eyes are on how Nitesh Tiwari pulls off the epic Ramayana films starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash as the leads. In an interview with Collider during the teaser launch, the director spoke about how he plans on portraying Ravana in the film. He calls the Lanka king’s tale a ‘very important lesson’. (Also Read: Nitesh Tiwari is sure his Ramayana won’t hurt sentiments as he avoids taking ‘creative leaps’, follows ‘do’s and don’ts’)

The filmmaker explained that it’s important to show all these facets of Ravana because it’s a ‘very important lesson’. “It’s very important for us to showcase all these bits, all these aspects of Ravana, because there’s a very important lesson which is hiding in there. You can have all these great qualities, but if you are governed by vengeance and if you’re driven by ego, then you know what the end result is going to be,” he said.

Elsewhere in the interview, Nitesh also mentioned that Ramayana is more than just a visual spectacle, as emotions are at its heart. He also promised to show Lanka and Ayodhya in a manner ‘no one has ever seen before’.

“To reach till this moment, it has personally taken me seven years. Filmmaking is a speculative and lonely process. Every moment of these seven years, I’ve imagined this moment as to what the reaction would be when it comes out,” said Namit emotionally at the film’s teaser launch, adding, “Today, looking at your reaction, I feel the seven years are worth those seven years. A lot of people have worked on this film. We hope we get much love from you all.”

Ramayana will be released in two parts for Diwali 2026 and 2027. Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman are composing the film’s score.

Filmmaker Priyadarshan recently weighed in on the contrasting screen personas of Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar, pointing out how their individual styles shape the kind of roles they can convincingly portray.Priyadarshan highlighted Akshay’s ability to seamlessly blend into the role of an everyday man. He said in an interview with India Today, “The plus point of Akshay is that he can look like a common man. His body language, the way he walks, especially when I did Khatta Meetha, I really thought that he looked like a road contractor who is struggling,” he said. He further added, “Many actors have a little more stylish way of carrying themselves. Akshay can definitely look, and has the body language of a common man. And he lived as an ordinary man, so he understands the nuances of an ordinary man.”On the other hand, the director explained that Shah Rukh’s polished, urban persona can sometimes limit his ability to convincingly portray more rooted, rural characters. Recalling their collaboration on Billu Barber, he shared, “I remember I took SRK to a very remote village, a deep village in the South. So, he asked me, ‘How did you find this place?’” He went on to recount SRK’s own admission: “He told me something. I can never relate to a village because I always grew up in Delhi,” adding, “Shah Rukh can never act as a villager, because his body language is very polished, very urban.”Priyadarshan also spoke about his storytelling style, which often draws from the struggles of ordinary people. “What I call is humour of life, humour of poverty,” he said, elaborating on his approach to filmmaking. Referencing Hera Pheri, he added, “Actually, if you ask me, Hera Pheri is a comedy of poverty. Everybody is desperate, no money, nothing.”Meanwhile, Priyadarshan is preparing for the release of his upcoming film Bhooth Bangla, headlined by Akshay Kumar. The film also features Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Tabu, and Wamiqa Gabbi in key roles, and is slated to hit theatres on April 16.

Ramayana is an emotional tale beyond grand visuals

Nitesh also mentioned in the interview that while Ayodhya and Lanka will be shown in a whole new light in the film, the core lies in the emotions. “See at the heart, it’s always the emotions. Ramayana is the story about morals, about principles, about relationships, about people. And that’s what’s going to remain at the core. What the visual effects and what the spectacle is gonna do is going to make it look even more beautiful, even more presentable, even more engaging. So that the audience can see the same story they have seen in the past in a completely new light,” he explained.