After weeks of anticipation, the online release of the first trailer for Ramayana has been postponed, just hours before it was expected to go live. Producer Namit Malhotra announced the decision on Thursday, saying the delay follows the makers' partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, which will handle the film's global distribution.
The trailer was widely expected to drop online after the "Ramayana" team represented the film at Hall H during San Diego Comic-Con, one of the world's biggest events for films and pop culture. The announcement came as a surprise to fans, particularly as the trailer had already been screened for select audiences and media in Delhi before the team travelled to Comic-Con.
In a statement shared on social media, Malhotra described the collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment as a milestone for Indian cinema. He said the trailer would now be released as part of a coordinated global promotional campaign, allowing Ramayana to be introduced to international audiences on the scale of a major Hollywood production.
"In over 100 years of Indian cinema, this will become a moment of great pride where 'Ramayana' will be shown to the entire world like any major global Hollywood film. This is special as it opens the door for people around the world to discover the richness of our culture and our stories with renewed pride and enthusiasm," he said.
Malhotra also thanked audiences for supporting the project and urged younger generations to preserve India's cultural legacy. The closing lines of his statement, however, drew attention online, with several users interpreting them as an indirect reference to the ongoing student protests over the NEET paper leak. "The youth of our country are our future. Let's all do the best we can to protect our future," the statement read.
The postponement triggered disappointment among fans on X, many of whom questioned the last-minute change and the absence of a revised release date.
"@malhotra_namit postponed the trailer. If it's to a new date, then announce it," one user wrote.
Another fan pointed out that the trailer had been expected to release on Bahuda Rath Yatra, calling the postponement disappointing. "You disappointed us... We have been waiting for this for so long... It would have been a great day. I won't wait for the trailer anymore. We were with you... but I don't trust you anymore," the post read.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, "Ramayana" features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Raavan, Ravi Dubey as Laxman and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. Rakul Preet Singh, Lara Dutta and Kajal Aggarwal also feature in the cast.
Produced by Prime Focus Studios, DNEG and Yash's Monster Mind Creations, "Ramayana" will be released in two parts, with the first scheduled for Diwali 2026 and the second for Diwali 2027. The film also brings together A.R. Rahman and Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer for their first collaboration.
