“It’s About Time”: Nitesh Tiwari on Why He’s Bringing Ramayana to the Big Screen for a New Generation

Filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari, known for acclaimed hits like Dangal and Chhichhore, has finally opened up about his reasons for taking on one of the most ambitious projects in Indian cinema—Ramayana. Speaking at the introductory teaser launch event in Mumbai, Tiwari offered a heartfelt explanation that went beyond just creative curiosity. “Many answers to that, there is not just one reason,” he said. “The one which I would like to underline is that I am much older than you, but every generation has had its own version of Ramayana, and we have all grown up with our versions of Ramayana. And this generation doesn’t have that.” His words highlighted a generational gap in cultural storytelling—one he feels deeply responsible to bridge.

 

Tiwari believes that the time is ripe for India to tell its stories to the world at the scale they deserve. “It’s about time we started creating stuff which kind of gets us noticed at the world scale, while at the same time taking pride in our wonderful culture and heritage that we have in our country,” he said. For him, Ramayana is more than a mythological tale—it's a cultural milestone waiting to be celebrated globally. With its profound spiritual and moral themes, the story of Rama and Ravana offers universal appeal, and Tiwari is determined to present it with both reverence and grandeur.

 

A significant part of this vision, Tiwari noted, is possible because of the support from producer Namit Malhotra. Praising Malhotra’s unwavering commitment, he said, “What better time than now when we have visionaries like Namit Malhotra, who will back you to the hilt. He is like, ‘Dream whatever you like, and I will make it happen.’ Now was the time to dream big.” Tiwari also spoke about the sheer effort that went into even the teaser. “What you have seen here is a very small glimpse. There is so much of time, effort and energy that has gone into even creating this small glimpse, you can imagine how much time, energy and effort we are putting into creating the whole film.”

 

Set in a mythological era ruled by the cosmic trinity—Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—the film explores Ravana’s rise as a threat to universal balance, and Lord Vishnu’s descent as Rama to restore harmony. Featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, the ensemble cast is among the most powerful in recent Indian film history. The project also marks the first-ever collaboration between music legends Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman. Action scenes are being choreographed by Hollywood stunt icons Terry Notary and Guy Norris. Produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios and co-produced by Yash’s Monster Mind Creations in collaboration with DNEG, the eight-time Oscar-winning VFX studio, Ramayana will release worldwide in two parts: Part 1 on Diwali 2026 and Part 2 on Diwali 2027. For Tiwari, this film isn’t just a cinematic project—it’s a celebration of Indian heritage, told on a scale worthy of the story’s greatness. “It’s about time,” he says—and now, the world is watching.

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