Nagarjuna has joined the growing conversation around Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1, and the veteran actor has offered an encouraging response to the film’s trailer. While the epic has been surrounded by enormous expectations even before its release, Nagarjuna says the performances of Ranbir Kapoor and Yash stood out to him in particular. His reaction comes at a time when trailers have become almost as important as the films themselves in shaping audience expectations.
Speaking to Variety India, Nagarjuna described the trailer as “brilliant” and specifically praised the two actors playing the central opposing forces of the story. “I think it was brilliant. I really liked Yash and Ranbir,” he says. For a film based on one of India’s most familiar epics, that response is significant because audiences already have strong ideas about the characters and the world they expect to see on screen.
Nagarjuna Praises Ranbir and Yash
The biggest takeaway from Nagarjuna’s reaction is his appreciation for both Ranbir Kapoor and Yash. Ranbir is playing Lord Rama, while Yash takes on the role of Ravana, putting two major contemporary Indian stars on opposite sides of the epic’s central conflict.
“I think it was brilliant. I really liked Yash and Ranbir,” Nagarjuna says.
His comments also carry some additional context because Nagarjuna has previously shared the screen with Ranbir in Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva. In Ayan Mukerji’s film, Nagarjuna played Anish Shetty, an artist and archaeologist connected to the secret society Brahmānsh. Their previous collaboration means the veteran actor has already seen Ranbir work within a large-scale fantasy production, although Ramayana represents a very different challenge for the younger actor.
Yash, meanwhile, is entering the film after becoming one of India’s biggest pan-Indian stars through the KGF franchise. His casting as Ravana has generated considerable curiosity because it places an actor strongly associated with the modern action genre in a role that requires a very different kind of screen presence.
Why The Ramayana Trailer Matters
Nagarjuna also addressed why expectations surrounding the trailer are so high. In his view, audiences now use trailers as one of their first major indicators of whether a movie deserves their theatrical time, regardless of where the film comes from.
“As far as people’s expectations are concerned, it is only natural. Whether it’s an Indian, Hollywood or Korean film, you look at the trailer first and figure out whether it is something that you actually want to watch. So, trailers have become very important. And they make a lot of difference to the opening of any film.”
That observation is especially relevant to Ramayana: Part 1. The film is not simply another large-scale Indian production; it is attempting to translate a culturally significant epic into a modern cinematic format while bringing together major stars and an international production team.
The trailer therefore has to accomplish more than simply introducing the cast. It needs to establish the visual world, communicate the tone of the story and convince audiences that the scale of the production matches the expectations attached to the Ramayana. Nagarjuna’s positive response suggests that, at least from his perspective, the first glimpse has managed to make an impression.
The film’s release strategy also reflects the scale of the project. Ramayana: Part 1 is scheduled to arrive in Indian theatres on November 8, 2026, during the Diwali weekend, while international markets are expected to receive the film two days earlier on November 6.
Ranbir, Yash Lead A Massive Ensemble
Nitesh Tiwari is directing Ramayana: Part 1, which is planned as the first chapter of a two-part cinematic adaptation of the Indian epic. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi portrays Sita and Yash takes on Ravana, while Sunny Deol plays Hanuman and Ravi Dubey appears as Lakshman.
The casting gives the film a broad mix of established stars and actors with strong followings across different parts of the country. That is particularly important for a project intended to work as a pan-Indian theatrical event, where the appeal of individual actors can help bring audiences from different language markets into cinemas.
The two-part format also gives the filmmakers considerably more room to build the story than a single feature would allow. Rather than attempting to compress the epic into one movie, the production can spend more time developing its characters, relationships and major conflicts across separate installments.
For Ranbir, the role of Rama could become one of the most defining performances of his career if the film connects with audiences. Yash faces an equally interesting challenge as Ravana, especially because his portrayal will inevitably be compared with the many interpretations of the character that Indian audiences have encountered across cinema, television and other forms of storytelling.
Nagarjuna’s Connection With Ramayana’s Stars
Nagarjuna’s comments also bring another layer to the discussion because of his own association with large-scale Indian cinema. The actor has worked across Telugu, Hindi and other film industries during his career, giving him a perspective on how major productions travel beyond their original language markets.
His previous collaboration with Ranbir in Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva is particularly relevant. That film also attempted to establish a large fantasy universe with mythology-inspired elements and a pan-Indian audience in mind. Ramayana, however, starts from a story that is already deeply embedded in Indian cultural consciousness, making the expectations around its interpretation considerably different.
The film is also being produced with ambitions that extend beyond India. Its international release two days ahead of the Indian theatrical launch indicates that the makers are positioning Ramayana as a global Indian event rather than a release aimed exclusively at the domestic market.
For now, Nagarjuna’s reaction adds another positive voice to the conversation. His praise for Ranbir and Yash does not reveal how the complete film will be received, but it highlights the performances that caught his attention in the trailer.
With Diwali providing the film with a major theatrical window, the pressure will only increase as November approaches. Ramayana: Part 1 has the stars, the scale and one of the most recognizable stories in Indian culture. The next challenge is turning those ingredients into a film that can satisfy both audiences who already know the epic and viewers discovering this cinematic interpretation for the first time.
Ramayana: Part 1 Trailer Q&A
What did Nagarjuna say about the Ramayana trailer?
Nagarjuna called the trailer “brilliant” and specifically praised Ranbir Kapoor and Yash. “I think it was brilliant. I really liked Yash and Ranbir,” he says.
Who plays Lord Rama in Ramayana: Part 1?
Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part cinematic adaptation of the Indian epic.
Who plays Ravana in Ramayana: Part 1?
Yash plays Ravana. His casting has attracted considerable attention because of his popularity following the KGF franchise.
Who plays Sita and Hanuman in Ramayana?
Sai Pallavi plays Sita, while Sunny Deol portrays Hanuman. Ravi Dubey plays Lakshman.
When will Ramayana: Part 1 release?
The film is scheduled to release in Indian theatres on November 8, 2026, during the Diwali weekend. International markets are scheduled to receive it two days earlier, on November 6.
Why does Nagarjuna think trailers are important?
Nagarjuna says audiences increasingly use trailers to decide whether a film is something they want to watch. He believes trailers can make “a lot of difference to the opening of any film.”
