Nitesh Tiwari calls directing 'Ramayana' 'intimidating and inspiring' in conversation with lead star Ranbir Kapoor

Nitesh Tiwari has opened up about the enormous responsibility of helming 'Ramayana', one of the most awaited and ambitious Bollywood films ever made. In a candid video shared by producer Namit Malhotra on his birthday, the filmmaker spoke to lead star Ranbir Kapoor about what it truly feels like to direct a cinematic retelling of India's greatest epic.In the video, when Ranbir Kapoor asked Tiwari about his first reaction to being offered the film, the 'Dangal' director did not hold back. He said, "Intimidating, challenging, inspiring all at the same time. Intimidating because, you know, telling a great story like Ramayana comes with a lot of moral responsibility. You have to just tell it in the right way possible."Ranbir added, "With the right intention," to which Tiwari agreed, saying, "With the right intentions, of course, you know. Inspiring because the kind of world which was presented to me was so mind-blowing. There was never an ounce of doubt in my mind that we will not be able to achieve this."Nitesh Tiwari also revealed that his association with the project goes back nearly six years. Reflecting on the journey, he said, "I don't think I could have taken a better decision." He credited the support of producer Namit Malhotra and production house DNEG as key reasons why accepting the project was a no-brainer, adding that with such backing, "you would just grab it with both your hands."'Ramayana' is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra with DNEG and Yash's production house. The film boasts a massive ensemble cast, Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshmana, among others. Music for the film brings together two global legends, Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman.Made on a reported budget of Rs 4,000 crore, the film is planned as a two-part global release, with Part 1 arriving during Diwali 2026 and Part 2 following on Diwali 2027.