Amidst swirling speculation surrounding the cast of Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming mythological epic, Ramayana, Tamil superstar Vijay Sethupathi has firmly denied reports linking him to the project. For days, rumors had circulated that Sethupathi was set to portray Vibhishana, Ravana's brother, in the highly anticipated film.

Sethupathi addressed these rumors directly, stating to Bollywood Hungama, "No, sir. I am no part of this project. No clue where this is coming from". This statement effectively shuts down the widespread reports that had gained traction across social media, which claimed the actor had already been signed for the trilogy.

Ramayana, produced by Namit Malhotra, is one of the most discussed films in Indian cinema, largely due to its massive scale and visual effects. The film boasts a star-studded cast, including Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana. Sunny Deol is reportedly playing Hanuman, with Ravi Dubey as Lakshmana. Other reports suggest Lara Dutta will play Kaikeyi, Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari and Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha. Raghav Juyal is expected to play Meghanad. The makers are planning a grand launch event on Ram Navami in March 2026 at the Gateway of India, Mumbai, where they are expected to reveal more details about the film.

Sethupathi's denial highlights the prevalence of unverified casting reports surrounding the Nitesh Tiwari directorial. This isn't the first instance of casting rumors being refuted; Vikrant Massey also clarified that he was never part of the film after reports suggested he had been replaced by Raghav Juyal.

The first part of Ramayana is slated for release during Diwali 2026, with the second part expected to follow in Diwali 2027. The film is reportedly being made on a budget of ₹4000 crore, making it one of the most expensive Indian films ever. The music will be a collaboration between Oscar winners Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman.

While Sethupathi will not be seen in Ramayana, he has several other projects lined up. These include Jailer 2, expected to release on June 12, 2026, Nelson Dilipkumar's sequel to Jailer. He is also involved in Gandhi Talks, a silent comedy film, and Idam Porul Yaeval, a Tamil drama. Other upcoming projects include Pisasu 2, Train, and several untitled projects. Recent box office successes for Sethupathi in lead roles include Viduthalai Part 1 (2023), Thalaivan Thalaivii (2025/26), and Maharaja (2024).