Nitesh Tiwari’s "Ramayana: Part 1" is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious Indian films in recent years, and reports suggest that Sunny Deol’s appearance as Lord Hanuman could become one of its biggest surprises.
According to reports, Deol will have a relatively short role in the first installment, with around 15 minutes of screen time. However, his appearance is expected to have a major impact on the story. Hanuman is reportedly introduced during the climax, when he arrives to offer his support to Lord Ram, played by Ranbir Kapoor.
The timing fits the reported story structure of the film. Ramayana: Part 1 is expected to cover the early and middle portions of the epic and conclude around the abduction of Sita, known as Sita Haran. Hanuman’s larger role would then be saved for the second installment, which will focus heavily on the conflict between Lord Ram and Ravana.
In "Ramayana: Part 2", Deol is expected to have a much more prominent role, with Hanuman becoming an important part of the film’s dramatic and action sequences. The sequel is expected to revolve around the war against Ravana, played by Kannada superstar Yash.
The decision to keep Hanuman out of the first trailer may also be part of the filmmakers’ marketing strategy. Fans quickly noticed that the character was completely missing from the trailer, but reports suggest that the makers deliberately kept Deol’s look under wraps.
A new report in Bollywood Hungama seems to confirm the aforementioned speculation. The plan is reportedly to reveal him near the end of Part 1, potentially in the final scene or a post-credits sequence. The idea is to create a major cliffhanger and generate the kind of audience excitement associated with the first "Baahubali" movie. Instead of revealing every major character in advance, the filmmakers appear to be saving Hanuman as a surprise for audiences in theatres.
A small group of viewers reportedly got an early glimpse of Deol’s Hanuman during an exclusive footage presentation at CinemaCon 2026 in Las Vegas. Those who saw the footage described his appearance as exciting and visually different from anything audiences have seen from the actor before.
The recent response to the first trailer for "Ramayana: Part 1" has been highly divided. The film’s enormous scale and music have received considerable praise, while some casting decisions and visual effects have sparked intense debate online.
Yash's portrayal of Ravana has attracted widespread attention, particularly for his powerful voice, intimidating laugh and physical transformation. Many viewers have described him as the standout performer in the trailer.
The background score has also received strong praise. The music, credited to Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, has been widely appreciated for adding an epic and emotional quality to the footage. Sai Pallavi, who plays Sita, has similarly received positive reactions, but some weren't too impressed either, calling her a misfit. Others have praised her grace and emotional presence.
Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Ram, however, has divided audiences. Supporters have appreciated his calm and restrained approach, while critics have questioned his dialogue delivery, arguing that it sometimes sounds too modern. Some social media users have also compared his more intense moments with his performance in "Animal".
The visual effects have created another debate. DNEG is reportedly handling the film’s large-scale visual effects, and many viewers have praised the impressive recreation of locations such as Ayodhya and Lanka. At the same time, certain CGI shots have been criticised as unfinished or less convincing, particularly when viewed on phones and other small screens.
Director Nitesh Tiwari, producer Namit Malhotra and Ranbir Kapoor have responded to some of the criticism by asking audiences to experience the film as intended. They have emphasised that the visual effects and scale were designed for large cinema screens, particularly IMAX, rather than compressed footage viewed on mobile devices.
"Ramayana: Part 1" is currently slated for a theatrical release during Diwali 2026, with Ramayana: Part 2 expected to arrive during Diwali 2027. If the reports are accurate, Sunny Deol’s brief appearance as Hanuman could give the first film a dramatic final surprise while setting the stage for a much larger role in the sequel.
