For years, rumours linked several top stars to Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana. From Mahesh Babu to Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, speculation never stopped. Now, producer Namit Malhotra and director Nitesh Tiwari have finally revealed that there was never a second option for Lord Rama.

Ramayana Makers Reveal Why Ranbir Kapoor Was Always Their First Choice

Ever since Ramayana was announced, fans have been curious about how its lead cast came together. Over the years, multiple reports suggested that several big names were being considered for the film’s iconic characters. However, producer Namit Malhotra and director Nitesh Tiwari have now clarified that when it came to casting Lord Rama, they had only one actor in mind: Ranbir Kapoor.

During an interaction with Screen Rant at Comic-Con 2026, the duo opened up about the casting process, putting years of speculation to rest.

‘There Was Never an Option Two’

Speaking about the decision, Namit Malhotra said that both he and Nitesh Tiwari were convinced from the very beginning that Ranbir Kapoor was the perfect fit for the role.

According to Malhotra, they never reached the stage of considering alternative actors because their entire focus was on approaching Ranbir first. He described the actor as the natural choice for portraying Lord Rama and said the team’s priority was simply to see whether they could bring him on board.

Echoing the same sentiment, Nitesh Tiwari gave a brief but memorable response.

“Option A, B, and C was Ranbir.”

His statement made it clear that the filmmakers never prepared a backup plan for the lead role.

Namit Malhotra and director #NiteshTiwari have confirmed that #RanbirKapoor was always their first choice to play Lord Ram.

Namit: “Option 1 was always him.”

Nitesh: “Option A, B and C was Ranbir.”#RamayanaMovie #Bollywood #RanbirKapoor pic.twitter.com/yO4crsptM8

— Suraj Choudhary (@bollywoodbroo) August 5, 2026

Rumours Linked Several Stars to the Project

Before the official cast announcement, Ramayana was surrounded by constant speculation.

Reports at different stages claimed that Mahesh Babu was being considered for the role of Lord Rama, while Deepika Padukone was frequently linked with the character of Sita. Hrithik Roshan was also widely rumoured to be in contention for the role of Ravana.

These reports gained traction across social media and entertainment portals, leading many fans to believe that the casting process had undergone several changes.

First casting picks for #Ramayana 🏹 vs Final Cast 🔥

Mahesh Babu ➜ Ranbir Kapoor as Shri Ram

Deepika Padukone ➜ Sai Pallavi as Sita Mata

Hrithik Roshan ➜ Yash as Ravana

Later SSRajamouli made sure MB plays a role of Ram if not in Ramayana then in Varanasi 📈 pic.twitter.com/anhxn0mDS4

— Pan India Review (@PanIndiaReview) July 31, 2026

Mahesh Babu Rumours Addressed Earlier

Industry reports had previously suggested that Mahesh Babu could not take up the project because of his commitment to filmmaker SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi.

However, those claims were denied by former producer Madhu Mantena, who addressed the speculation in an earlier interview.

Mantena clarified that Mahesh Babu had never officially been approached for the role. He explained that while he shared a close friendship with both Mahesh Babu and Namit Malhotra and had discussed the Ramayana project with them, there were never any conversations regarding the actor’s casting.

He also added that if the team genuinely wanted Mahesh Babu for the film, they would have been willing to wait for his availability. Ultimately, he said, casting decisions rested with director Nitesh Tiwari.

Mantena was initially associated with the project as a producer before reportedly stepping away in 2024.

A Star-Studded Cast for the Epic

The final cast of Ramayana features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana.

Backed by producer Namit Malhotra and directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film is one of the most ambitious Indian productions ever mounted.

According to the makers, Ramayana is being developed as a two-part cinematic saga, with reports suggesting a production budget of around ₹4,000 crore, along with a massive marketing campaign.

The first installment is scheduled to arrive in cinemas during Diwali 2026, making it one of the year’s biggest theatrical releases.

With the makers now confirming that Ranbir Kapoor was always their first and only choice for Lord Rama, one of the longest-running casting rumours surrounding Ramayana has finally been laid to rest.