'Ramayana' teaser early review: Ranbir Kapoor, Nitesh Tiwari screen FIRST GLIMPSE at LA event; audience say 'Really looking forward to this one'

The first glimpse into the epic 'Ramayana' saga has officially debuted at an IMAX screening in Los Angeles and the early reactions from the screening are already going viral. The first footage of the mythological epic, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and starring Ranbir Kapoor, was shown at a special screening to a packed audience. Photos and videos from the grand launch have made their way online, with those in attendance tweeting their early reactions, while also getting fans hyped and excited for the official launch set to take place on April 2. The handle @ThatChrisGore tweeted, "Really looking forward to this one."Another shared the film's poster on the big screen and wrote, "Now watching a special sneak peek of the new epic film RAMAYANA."In a detailed review from the screening, one member of the audience wrote in an Instagram post, "R A M A Y A N A: Had the honor of watching a preview of the trailer for Ramayana—releasing April 2, 2026—in Burbank, and I’m still feeling it. What Namit Malhotra is creating, with Nitesh Tiwari bringing this epic to life, is nothing short of breathtaking. The scale, the vision, the energy… all of it felt powerful."Opening up about an emotional moment in the trailer, she went on to add, "There was one moment that truly stayed with me—when Ram is sitting in a boat, his name is called, and he slowly turns. For someone who rarely gets emotional… that moment hit deep. It felt like home. The sound, the frequency, the emotion in that single word—it resonated in a way I can’t fully explain. Tears fell down my cheek—whether from joy or a sense of belonging, I just felt it.""It was also a privilege to witness how humble and grounded Namit Malhotra and Nitesh Tiwari were during the Q&A," she said and gave due credit to leading man Ranbir saying, "And Ranbir Kapoor… what a moment. When greeted and asked a question during the Q&A, he responded with “Jai Siya Ram”—such a beautiful and respectful connection with the audience. You can tell he’s truly immersed himself in the story, understanding its depth and meaning.""Can’t wait to experience Part 1 this Diwali 2026," she concluded. Following the launch of the first clip, Nitesh, Ranbir and Namit sat down for a Q and A with the audience, where they answered questions about the film and more. Although details have currently been kept under wraps, videos and photos have made their way online. Attendees at the launch were seen applauding, hooting and cheering the team after the event. This update comes just a day after Producer Namit Malhotra, on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami, took to Instagram and revealed that the next promotional asset of the film will be released on Hanuman Jayanti on April 2. In his post, he shared that the next glimpse has been titled 'Rama'.He wrote, "Shubh Rama Navami. This is a story that belongs to all of us, and every step we take has been guided by a deep sense of responsibility, devotion, and care to bring our very own Ramayana to life in its truest spirit and scale with utmost sincerity. We look forward to sharing the next glimpse, 'Rama' on 2nd April, on the auspicious occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, as we begin to showcase all these years of our effort through a grand world reveal with fans, celebrating this moment across the world. Thank you for your love, faith, and patience."Ahead of the release of the promo material, there has been significant buzz about the scale, visuals, and ambition of the project that attempts to reimagine the ancient Indian epic for a modern, global audience.'Ramayana' cast and release dateIn the film, Ranbir will take on the role of Lord Rama, while Sai Pallavi plays the role of Sita. Actor Yash has been cast as the antagonist Ravana, with Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. 'Ramayana', the two-part epic is slated for a worldwide IMAX release, with Part 1 arriving on Diwali 2026 and Part 2 on Diwali 2027.