Lord Hanuman may have only a limited presence in the first part of Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, but another film is preparing to put the revered deity at the centre of a much bigger cinematic experience. Titled Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal, the upcoming project is being developed as India’s first AI-generated theatrical feature film. The movie will draw from the Ramayana and Puranic literature while using artificial intelligence to create a new visual interpretation of Hanuman for audiences in India and international markets.
The film was initially expected to arrive around Hanuman Jayanti, but that plan has changed because work on the music and editing is still underway. Variety India’s report says the movie is now expected to release later this year, after Ramayana: Pratham Sankalp reaches theatres during Diwali. That timing could give Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal an interesting advantage, as audiences will have just seen another large-scale interpretation of the epic before moving into a film devoted specifically to one of its most beloved figures.
India’s AI Film Takes Hanuman to the Big Screen
Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal is being positioned as a first-of-its-kind experiment that combines Indian mythology with AI-driven filmmaking. Abundantia Entertainment, led by Vikram Malhotra, has partnered with Collective Media Network’s Historyverse division for the project. The collaboration aims to create a “Made-In-AI” and “Made-In-India” film that uses technology while remaining rooted in traditional mythology.
The project is being designed for a multi-language theatrical release across major international markets. That global approach is important because Hanuman is already a widely recognised figure within Indian culture, while the filmmakers appear to be aiming for a cinematic interpretation that can introduce the character and his story to audiences unfamiliar with the deeper mythology. The use of AI also gives the film a distinctive identity before viewers have even seen the finished product.
The technology is not being presented as a replacement for the mythology itself. Instead, the project is attempting to use new filmmaking tools to visualise a traditional story on a large scale. That combination of ancient source material and modern production technology could make the film one of the more unusual Indian theatrical experiments of the year.
Why the Film Could Benefit From Ramayana
The timing of the project becomes particularly interesting because Ramayana: Pratham Sankalp is expected to arrive first. Ranbir Kapoor is playing Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s epic, with Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana and Yash as Ravana. Sunny Deol is set to play Lord Hanuman, although the source notes that Hanuman’s role in the first part is expected to be relatively small.
That creates a natural opening for Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal. Viewers who leave Ramayana wanting to see more of Hanuman could find another theatrical story centred entirely on the character later in the year. The connection is particularly useful because Tiwari’s film is expected to be one of the major cinematic interpretations of the epic, potentially bringing renewed attention to its characters and mythology.
Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal is inspired by the same broad literary and religious tradition but is taking a different production route. Rather than competing directly with Ramayana as another conventional live-action epic, it is leaning into AI-generated filmmaking. That distinction could help the project establish its own identity instead of simply being perceived as another version of the same story.
Rajesh Mapuskar Leads the Ambitious Project
The film is being directed by Rajesh Mapuskar, whose previous work includes Ferrari Ki Sawaari, Ventilator, Rudra: The Edge of Darkness, Yek Number and Real Kashmir Football Club. He is taking on a project that requires the filmmaker to balance mythology, technology and theatrical scale. The film’s AI-driven production approach also presents a different set of creative challenges from a conventional effects-heavy feature.
Alok Jain, Ajit Andhare and Vijay Subramaniam are attached as co-producers. Together with Abundantia Entertainment and Collective Media Network’s Historyverse division, the team is building the project around the idea of bringing Indian mythology to a global audience through emerging filmmaking technology.
The source does not reveal the voice cast, detailed plot structure or the exact AI tools being used to create the film. Those details could become increasingly important as the release approaches, particularly because the project’s biggest selling point is its AI-generated format. For now, the emphasis remains on establishing Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal as a large-scale theatrical interpretation rather than simply an experimental digital project.
Ramayana Arrives With a Massive Cast and Crew
The wider Ramayana connection gives the Hanuman project an even bigger cinematic backdrop. Ramayana: Pratham Sankalp stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana and Yash as Ravana. The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari, whose credits include Dangal and Chhichhore, while Namit Malhotra is backing the ambitious production.
The movie also brings together two major names from the world of film music, with A. R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer attached to the project. That combination has already contributed to the scale surrounding the film, which is being positioned as a major cinematic event.
For Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal, however, the challenge will be different. Its success will depend not only on the familiarity of Hanuman as a character but also on whether audiences embrace an AI-generated theatrical experience. If the filmmakers can make the technology serve the story instead of becoming the entire story, the project could offer something genuinely different to Indian audiences.
For now, the release has been pushed beyond its original Hanuman Jayanti target, with music and editing still in progress. The makers are expected to bring the film to theatres later this year after Ramayana: Pratham Sankalp. If that schedule holds, audiences could first encounter Sunny Deol’s interpretation of Hanuman in Ramayana before getting an entirely different, technology-driven take on the deity in Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal.
Questions & Answers
What is Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal?
Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal is an upcoming film inspired by the Ramayana and Puranic literature that is being developed as India’s first AI-generated theatrical feature.
When will Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal release?
The film was initially planned around Hanuman Jayanti but has been delayed while its music and editing are completed. It is now expected to release later in 2026 after Ramayana: Pratham Sankalp.
Who is directing Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal?
Rajesh Mapuskar is directing the film. His previous work includes Ferrari Ki Sawaari, Ventilator and Rudra: The Edge of Darkness.
How is Chiranjeevi Hanuman connected to Ramayana?
Both films draw from the mythology surrounding Lord Rama and Hanuman. The new AI film is expected to give Hanuman a much more central role after his relatively limited presence in the first part of Ramayana: Pratham Sankalp.
Who plays Hanuman in Ramayana: Pratham Sankalp?
Sunny Deol plays Lord Hanuman in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Pratham Sankalp.
Who stars in Ramayana: Pratham Sankalp?
Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi plays Goddess Sita, Ravie Dubey plays Lakshmana and Yash plays Ravana. Sunny Deol is also part of the cast as Hanuman.
