Ranbir Kapoor and Yash to share minimal screen time in Ramayana

With the production of Namit Malhotra, Ramayana is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about films in India's film industry. Fans who were anticipating a significant amount of screen time between Ranbir Kapoor and Yash in Nitesh Tiwari's masterpiece may be disappointed. The film stars Yash as Raavan and Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram.

Ranbir Kapoor and Yash will barely share screen time

The two stars will "barely be seen sharing screen space together," according to production insiders. The decision to stay true to the original Valmiki text, where Ram and Raavan's paths do not cross until the last fight, inspired this creative choice.

Lord Ram and Raavan did not meet for the majority of the epic, as depicted in the original Valmiki text, and the producers have decided to honour this decision. Until the final confrontation, when fate finally brings them face to face, their worlds stay apart and their storylines progress in tandem. A source indicated that the original storyline states that Ram finds out about Raavan only after Sita is abducted and that they don't meet until the fight on the battlefield in Lanka.

Parallel arcs enhance the climactic showdown

Two main characters, one centred around dharma and virtue and the other around ego and power, are explored in the film. According to sources, the film amplifies the effect of their showdown by keeping their stories apart. One character represents dharma and virtue, while the other is motivated by ego and power. The film builds suspense for their confrontation by following their individual paths. Their eventual conflict is much more intense because their arcs can grow independently thanks to this delayed confrontation.

The parts starring Ranbir Kapoor remain uncertain, although Yash will appear alongside Sai Pallavi (Fidaa and NGK) as Sita and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. Shooting Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love & War, which also stars Vicky Kaushal and Alia Bhatt, has caused scheduling and appearance-related issues for the actor, who is attempting to maintain a consistent image for the production.

Uncertainty around Ranbir Kapoor’s shoot due to Love & War

Love & War is now in production, and Ranbir's (Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani and Rockstar) availability is limited due to the distinctive appearance he adopts for the film. The insider stated, citing production delays as the reason, that it is currently not feasible for him to switch appearances for Ramayan at this stage. 

Filming is currently underway on expansive sets in Mumbai. Ramayana is set to be released in two parts, with the first portion set for Diwali 2026 and the second part set for Diwali 2027. Yash started filming in early May after visiting the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain, while Ranbir has already finished his portions.

Prioritising authenticity over star pairing

The decision to limit interactions between the main characters indicates a clear departure from traditional celebrity collaborations. The insider further revealed that Ramayana takes a more controlled, narrative-driven course, one that prioritises authenticity and promises a fully immersive recreation of the epic tale. The source continued by stating that, in an era when star-studded films often emphasise relationships between prominent actors to generate fan excitement, this approach is not taken in Ramayana.

Ramayana features a top-tier cast, massive sets, and a top-tier visual effects crew, all with the goal of delivering an epic that is both historically grounded and technologically advanced.