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Ever since Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana arrived in the theaters, everyone has been talking about the big three: Yash as Ravana, Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, and Sai Pallavi as Devi Sita. But an epic like this also lives in its characters: the king who must choose his vow, the queen who falls for a trap, the prince who follows the duties of a brother, the vulture who dies for friendship.
The scale and casting of this grand film is its biggest USP. The true triumph of this mythological milestone lies far beyond its primary trio. Casting director Mukesh Chhabra and Nitesh Tiwari have constructed an ensemble so meticulously detailed that no character looks secondary and even with a minute appearance leaves a strong imprint. From emotional voice performances to high-octane cameos, the cast elevates the film from a standard big-budget spectacle into a cinematic celebration!
Here is a detailed breakdown of the standout character performances that drive the emotional heart of Ramayana, led by Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Ravie Dubey, and Yash at the center! But Nitesh Tiwari assembled the most pitch-perfect mythological ensemble in Modern Hindi Cinema! Here’s a breakdown of the characters of the Ramayana!
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The Royal Kingdom Of Ayodhya
Arun Govil as Dashrath
Arun Govil played Lord Ram in the 1987 TV serial by Ramanand Sagar! He was worshipped as Lord Ram by the audience and was introduced to this generation yet again during the COVID phase! So seeing him as the father of the very character he ruled with on the small screen was surreal! The king who must send Ram away has a quiet beauty. The film made brilliant use of Arun Govil’s on-screen history! In one of the scenes, he asks Ram to kill him, and he makes an impact! Especially in his final moments and his last call for his beloved son Ram!
Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi
The most divisive Ayodhya character. Lara Dutta honestly does not convince much as the shrewd Queen Kaikeyi. But she does win with her emotional restraint when she gives a final farewell to Ram, Lakshman, and Sita before they leave Ayodhya! You never hate Kaikeyi in this version of the Ramayana, and that probably is a miss by Lara!
Indira Krishnan as Kaushalya
The eldest queen of Ayodhya is played by Indira Krishnan! She provides a serene matriarchal presence as Lord Ram’s mother. Her quiet and dignified grief during the palace departure scenes and her immense celebration before Ram’s coronation stay with the audience!
Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara
She’s one of Hindi cinema’s most reliable character actors, and Manthara is the kind of role she can make memorable in a few scenes. She brings a sly, atmospheric intensity to Manthara. Her quiet whisperings and manipulative dialogues with Kaikeyi trigger the central conflict of this epic effectively.
Lanka & The Asura World
Shobhana as Kaikasi
The film’s boldest addition is Ravana’s mother. Shobhana has a powerful presence. She is critical to the story of Ravana’s origin as one of the greediest demon kings who lost everything due to lust and greed! Shobhana’s Kaikasi takes us to the backstory of Ravana and how his greed is also fuelled by the daughter of the king of demons, Sumali!
Vivek Oberoi as Vidyutjeeva
Vivek Oberoi’s Vidyutjeeva was an on-point opportunity! Playing the husband of Shurpanakha and Ravana’s friend, Vidyutjeeva’s jealousy towards Kumbhkarna is channeled brilliantly by Vivek Oberoi! However, the episode was unnecessary and a bit dragged when weighed in the bigger scheme of events!
Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha
There has been a lot of criticism around Rakul Preet Singh’s Shurpanakha being too dramatic and theatrical. But in my opinion, she is the perfect antagonist this epic could have! She plays Shurpanakha to perfection, fueled by anger to seek revenge! A revenge that had a huge cost!
Kajal Agarwal as Mandodari
Part 1 has very little for Mandodari – the wise queen of Ravana. A character that has been underused in this part! Clearly, Mandodari is one of the wisest voices of the Ramayana, so I hope Part 2 finally gives her the space to shine!
Saurabh Sachdeva as Mareech
Saurabh Sachdeva as Mareech is a breath of fresh air! He rules with the Deer and the Mayajaal scene, making an impressive impact. The golden deer sequence is a turning point of the story, and he gives it a meaningful elevation!
The Gods & Jatayu!
Kunal Kapoor as Indra Dev
He gets a role with minimal screen time, but the film makes it count. The war sequence with Aerawat the elephant and Lord Indra is a visually stunning frame!
Ranbir Kapoor As Lord Parshuram!
Ranbir delivers a career-defining act defined by absolute serenity, quiet authority, and moral poise. Playing two avatars of Lord Vishnu is a bold move but he resists over-dramatization without compromising the anger in Lord Parshuram. In his dual cameo as Lord Parshuram, he exhibits a striking, fiery contrast that showcases his incredible range. However, actor Abhay Arora has played Lord Parshuram’s body, while Ranbir’s face has been merged with VFX!
Anupam Kher as Jatayu
The voice that breaks your heart is Anupam Kher’s Jatayu! He’s also the film’s storyteller, narrating the Asura-Devata war that sets everything in motion. When Jatayu dies, his voice is the reason you feel it. His last words, Hey Ram, make a strong impact as a scene!
The Leads
Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram
This is the film’s biggest gamble, and I think it mostly pays off. Ranbir Kapoor honestly takes some time to turn into Lord Rama. But once he transforms, there is no going back! He wins especially in the emotional sequences. In one of the scenes, he questions his destiny as a human being, but in the very next scene, he challenges the ruler of the three realms, Ravana, and vows to kill him for abducting Sita!
Sai Pallavi as Devi Sita.
Sai’s Sita has natural grace and warmth, portraying purity, strength and emotional vulnerability sincerely, even if the role is understated in this part. She works twice as hard to get the neutral Hindi accent right, and the effort pays off. Part 1 gives her fewer big moments than she deserves, so I’m expecting more in Part 2.
Yash as Ravana
He’s clearly the man everyone’s talking about. Yash’s entry expands the film’s visual scale exponentially. Dressed in dark golden armor with an imposing screen presence, he portrays Ravana not as a caricaturish monster, but as a towering scholar-king consumed by his own power and ambition.
Sharad Kelkar As Ravana’s Hindi Voice!
Sharad Kelkar’s voice in the Hindi version echoes through the universe in the opening, and you get a king who owns Lanka. His voice makes Ravana who he really is, and he gets the due, probably the best decision for the film!
Ravie Dubey as Lakshman
Ravie Dubey is winning with his film debut! Playing the fiercely protective younger brother, he serves as the ideal emotional counterweight to Ranbir’s composed Lord Ram. His sharp dialogue delivery, martial agility, and protective fury towards his Bhaiya and Bhabhi make his performance stand out brilliantly across the forest sequences. He gives Lakshman a spark, though I wish the script gave him more.
The Final 3 Seconds & Sunny Deol’s Lord Hanuman!
Three words. Three seconds. As Hanuman leaps through a forest in the post-credit scene, Sunny Deol‘s roaring voice chants Jai Shri Ram, and his face is never shown. He doesn’t need more. I’m already waiting for Diwali 2028.
Not every supporting performance lands for Ramayana. A few characters are underwritten. But the ambition is clear: the film cares about the people around Ram, from Kaikasi’s world to Jatayu’s sacrifice. That’s why I’m still thinking about them after the credits. Which character won you over? How did you find the film?
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