Sheeba Chadha was surprised by the scale of Ranbir Kapoor-Sa ..a

The countdown is officially on for 'Ramayana: Part 1,' the mythological spectacle directed by Nitesh Tiwari that promises to be Bollywood’s grandest Diwali treat in 2026. With Ranbir Kapoor stepping into Lord Ram’s iconic sandals and Sai Pallavi glowing as Goddess Sita, the film is already stirring up excitement like a festive blockbuster. But it isn’t just the leads who are creating buzz. Actress Sheeba Chadha, who plays the cunning Manthara, admits the sheer scale of the project took her by surprise.

Speaking to Mid-Day, Sheeba gushed about her experience, saying that even though her role is relatively small, working on the movie was unforgettable. Her scenes with Lara Dutta added an extra layer of fun, making her feel like a part of something truly legendary. The curiosity and hype around the film, she says, are off the charts, proving that size doesn’t always matter when it comes to making a memorable impact.

Producer Namit Malhotra revealed the ambitious vision behind the film, noting that the project has been entirely self-funded. He laughs off early doubts, explaining that no Indian film had dared attempt such a massive budget, especially just after the pandemic. Malhotra calls it the largest film in the world for the greatest story, and even with a projected cost of half a billion dollars for both parts, he insists it is still more economical than some of Hollywood’s biggest productions.

The cast reads like a who’s who of Bollywood royalty. Alongside Ranbir and Sai Pallavi, we have Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, Arun Govil as King Dasharath, Indira Krishnan as Queen Kaushalya, Lara Dutta as Queen Kaikeyi, Anil Kapoor as King Janak, Amitabh Bachchan as Jatayu, and Adinath Kothare as Bharat. With this stellar ensemble, the epic is poised to be both majestic and magical.

'Ramayana: Part 1' is slated for a cinematic release during Diwali 2026, promising audiences a festive spectacle they won’t forget.
**This news was published on Times of India on 3rd September, 2025.

 

 

Source Click