Archive · 5 Aug 2026
How KGF landed Yash the Ravana role in Ramayana
A movie producer named Namit Malhotra is making a big film called Ramayana, based on an ancient Indian story.
He needed someone to play Ravana, the powerful villain.
Malhotra watched a movie called KGF: Chapter 2 and saw actor Yash in it.
He thought Yash had the energy and strength to do Ravana justice.
The two talked in Los Angeles, where Malhotra was living at the time.
Yash liked the movie's big ideas so much that he joined as a producer too.
For the hero Lord Rama, they wanted actor Ranbir Kapoor from the very start.
The director could not be happier with both choices.
The first part of Ramayana will come out during Diwali in 2026.
Producer Namit Malhotra said watching KGF: Chapter 2 convinced him Yash had the intensity to play Ravana in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana.
Malhotra and Yash met in Los Angeles, where Malhotra was living during the film's pre-production.
Yash joined the project as a producer, getting excited about the ambition and aspiration of Ramayana.
Ranbir Kapoor was cast as Lord Rama, with director Nitesh Tiwari calling the pairing of Kapoor and Yash 'drool-worthy stuff.'
Ramayana: Part One is scheduled for a Diwali 2026 release.
- Who
- Producer Namit Malhotra, director Nitesh Tiwari, and actors Yash and Ranbir Kapoor.
- What
- Yash was cast as Ravana in the upcoming Ramayana films after KGF: Chapter 2 convinced Namit Malhotra he was right for the role.
- When
- Announced ahead of Ramayana: Part One's planned Diwali 2026 release; reported by ScreenRant on a Tuesday.
- Where
- Los Angeles, where Malhotra and Yash first met during pre-production.
- Why
- Malhotra believed Yash's KGF performance showed the power and screen presence needed to portray Ravana convincingly.
- Film
- Ramayana: Part One
- Director
- Nitesh Tiwari
- Producer
- Namit Malhotra
- Cast — Ravana
- Yash
- Cast — Lord Rama
- Ranbir Kapoor
- Casting rationale
- Performance in KGF: Chapter 2
- Release
- Diwali 2026