The story of Ramayana is making headlines again with two major film projects capturing fans’ attention. One is the highly awaited Bollywood film Ramayanam, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, and Sai Pallavi. The other is a separate Ramayana project announced by South Indian actor and producer Vishnu Manchu.
Vishnu Manchu’s long-planned Ramayana film
Vishnu Manchu shared details about his Ramayana movie plan, which dates back to 2009. He revealed that he wrote the script years ago and originally wanted South superstar Surya to play Lord Rama, Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt as Sita, and his father Mohan Babu as Ravana. The film was set to be directed by Raghavendra Rao.
A focus on Ravana’s life
Unlike typical Ramayana adaptations, Vishnu’s script planned to focus on the life of Ravana, covering his story from birth to death. However, the project stalled due to a large budget requirement. Now, Vishnu has hinted that he wants to revive the project and has expressed interest in playing Hanuman himself.
Vishnu’s previous film
Vishnu Manchu earlier produced the mythological film Kannappa, which featured Bollywood star Akshay Kumar in a special role. Released on July 26, Kannappa did not perform as well as expected at the box office.
Bollywood’s Ramayanam film set for 2026 release
Meanwhile, the Bollywood film Ramayanam, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and starring Ranbir Kapoor, is also in the spotlight. The film’s first part is scheduled to release on Diwali 2026, with the second part coming out on Diwali 2027.
