All eyes were on the trailer of Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash. Fans were waiting with bated breath for the trailer, which was scheduled to release at 8 am on Friday. However, the launch has now been postponed to a later date, which has not yet been announced.
Just a few hours before the scheduled trailer launch, producer Namit Malhotra announced that Sony Pictures Entertainment will handle the film's global distribution outside India. Following this new partnership, the makers decided to delay the trailer's worldwide release.
However, several reports suggest that the postponement is linked to the ongoing nationwide protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over the alleged NEET paper leak. The CJP has refused to call off the protest and is now demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Ranbir Kapoor-Yash's Ramayana trailer postponed; producer cites Sony Pictures deal
Announcing the global partnership, producer Namit Malhotra wrote, "Today is a very special moment for our Ramayana. My dream of taking Ramayana to the world is now a reality with our partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment."
Sharing the reason for the delay, he added, "In light of the above, we will be launching our trailer globally at a later date. In over 100 years of Indian cinema, this will become a moment of great pride, where Ramayana will be shown to the entire world like any major global Hollywood film."
The makers are yet to announce the new trailer release date.
The announcement comes exactly a week after the entire team unveiled the trailer for Indian media, influencers and select fans at a special event held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on July 18. The trailer had also been screened earlier for members of the international media.
On Thursday, Ranbir Kapoor joined co-star Yash, director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra at the Ramayana panel during San Diego Comic-Con.
During the interaction, Ranbir was asked how he felt about portraying Lord Rama on the big screen.
"I remember when the film was first offered to me, there was so much fear, so much doubt. 'Will I be able to do this? Am I capable enough?' But I think that doubt changed into gratitude very early on. It was a blessing, an opportunity of a lifetime, and a moral responsibility. The Ramayana is ingrained in our subconscious. Lord Rama is the conscience keeper of millions of people around the world for generations, for more than 4,000 years. He embodies the triumph of the human spirit in times of adversity. He stands for courage, compassion, forgiveness and righteousness. Just having the opportunity to represent that is very daunting," he said.
Ranbir added that once he accepted the role, he realised what it would take to do justice to the character.
"Very early on, I understood that it just requires a lot of faith, a lot of belief, truthfulness and noble intentions. Our entire cast and crew had one noble intention, and that is to tell the story as authentically as we can," he added.
Yash also defended Ranbir's casting as Lord Rama during the panel.
"Nobody in this world can come and say, 'I have the virtue to play Lord Rama.' The fact that he said the same says it all. He is a fabulous actor. It's not easy to play Lord Rama, and the way he has really worked, huge respect to him," Yash said.
Ranbir says Raha will watch Ramayana on the big screen
During a fan Q&A session, Ranbir also revealed that one of the biggest reasons he is looking forward to the film's release is his daughter Raha Kapoor.
According to The Times of India, a fan spoke about introducing children to Indian mythology through the film, prompting Ranbir to say, "I'm very excited to take my daughter to the film. It is going to be her first film on the big screen."
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is a two-part epic. Apart from Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, the film stars Sai Pallavi as Sita, along with Ravie Dubey, Sunny Deol, Rakul Preet Singh, Lara Dutta, Arun Govil, Vivek Oberoi and Kunal Kapoor.
Ramayana: Part One is scheduled to release in theatres this November.
