Veteran Bollywood actor Sunny Deol is set to portray the revered character of Hanuman in Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming film series, "Ramayana". The actor has expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to embody a figure so deeply embedded in Indian culture and spirituality.
Deol confirmed his participation in the project, stating, "I am working in Ramayan as Hanuman, yes that is true". He acknowledged the challenges that come with playing such an iconic role, emphasizing the importance of immersing himself in the character to ensure a believable portrayal. "For actors, we love challenging things because it's fun," Deol said. "We have to nail the character and listen to our director. I immerse myself in my character so that people believe in it".
"Ramayana" is envisioned as a two-part epic, with Ranbir Kapoor playing Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita. Yash will be seen as Ravana. Other cast members include Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara, Ravi Dubey as Laxman, Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha, Arun Govil as Dashrath, and Harman Baweja as Vibhishan. The first part of the film is slated for a Diwali 2026 release, followed by the second part in 2027.
Deol has lauded director Nitesh Tiwari's vision for the film, expressing confidence in his ability to bring the epic tale to life. "He is doing a great job and is the right person to make Ramayana," Deol said, "He wants to make it believable, because he believes in the story. I know him for years, and I think he got the right film to do so". Deol also praised Namit Malhotra, who is producing the film and overseeing the visual effects. "I am very excited about Ramayana, because Namit (Malhotra, DNEG) is doing it and he is at the moment holding special effect companies all over the world," he stated.
There are reports that "Ramayana" will be a trilogy, with the second film being a standalone film on Hanuman, led by Sunny Deol. This film will explore Hanuman's connection to Ram's exile (Vanvas) and Sita's abduction. The third film will focus on the aftermath of Sita's abduction.
Deol has spoken about his own faith and religious beliefs, stating, "Kaun bhagwan mein nahi manta? Hum hai bhagwan ke vajh se hai," which translates to "Who doesn't believe in God? We are here because of Him". He recognizes the weight and responsibility that comes with portraying a revered figure like Hanuman, acknowledging the need to avoid any misrepresentation. "To play Hanuman ji is going to be difficult in a way because one doesn't want to do anything wrong," Deol said.
The film is expected to have impressive visual effects, with Deol comparing it to the "Avatar" and "Planet of the Apes" movies. "Ramayana is a long project because they're trying to make it the way Avatar and Planet of the Apes movies were made," Deol said. "All those technicians are a part of it. The writer and director are very clear about the way it has to be and how the characters should be presented".
