Yash Urges Fans to Watch ‘Ramayana’ With an Open Mind

Hyderabad, India : Actor and co-producer Yash has urged audiences to watch Ramayana: Part One with an open mind and support the film’s ambition to present an Indian story to global audiences, cautioning against focusing on minor visual effects (VFX) issues.

Yash made the remarks at a pre-release event in Hyderabad on Monday night, October 19, ahead of the film’s planned worldwide release on Diwali 2026. He said the project represented a significant investment and commitment by co-producer Namit Malhotra.

“Please don’t try to find small faults: VFX, this, that,” Yash said. He added that losing support for filmmakers undertaking projects of this scale could delay similar efforts for years.

Yash, known for films including KGF and Toxic, said he joined the project after being impressed by Malhotra’s vision. He urged audiences and the Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi film industries to come together in support of the production.

“As an Indian, I am telling you, we need to protect this guy. It’s our responsibility,” Yash said, referring to Malhotra. He described the producer as someone with the passion, dedication and determination required to realise the project.

Yash said Malhotra had previously expressed a desire to help raise the global standing of Indian cinema, despite his established work in the international film industry.

The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios and visual effects company DNEG, in association with Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. DNEG has won eight Academy Awards for its work in visual effects.

The cast includes Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Arun Govil as King Dashrath, Kunal Kapoor as Lord Indra, Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha and Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana.

At the event, Kapoor described the film as a significant personal and professional undertaking. He said playing Ram had encouraged him to reflect on qualities including courage, compassion, forgiveness and gratitude.

Kapoor also expressed hope that the film would reconnect audiences with the Ramayana stories they had heard from their parents and grandparents. He praised Malhotra, whom he described as a childhood friend, along with director Tiwari and his co-stars.

Ramayana: Part One is scheduled for worldwide release on Diwali 2026, with Sony Pictures handling global distribution. Further details about the release and the film’s promotional campaign were not provided in the supplied material.