As excitement builds around Nitesh Tiwari’s much-awaited epic Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, many movie lovers may not know that another high-profile adaptation was announced years earlier—with Hrithik Roshan originally expected to portray the iconic character.
The ambitious project, titled The Legend of Ram, was announced by filmmaker Sanjay Khan in the late 2000s. Despite generating considerable interest at the time, the film never entered production.
Hrithik Roshan Was Once Linked to Lord Ram’s Role
When The Legend of Ram was announced, Hrithik Roshan was reportedly chosen to play Lord Ram. The project also featured an impressive proposed cast, including:
- Hrithik Roshan as Lord Ram
- Zayed Khan as Lakshman
- Amitabh Bachchan as King Dashrath
Speaking during the project’s announcement period, Zayed Khan had praised Hrithik as an ideal choice for the role, saying the makers had spent years developing the film before finalizing the casting.
The announcement generated significant buzz among audiences, who were eager to see a large-scale cinematic adaptation of the Indian epic.
Why Was The Legend of Ram Never Made?
Although the film attracted attention, it was eventually shelved before production began.
British-Indian author Farrukh Dhondy was reportedly associated with the screenplay, and media reports at the time suggested the project carried an estimated budget of around ₹50 crore.
However, the filmmakers never officially disclosed the exact reason for cancelling the production.
Industry reports from that period indicated that financial constraints and planning-related challenges prevented the project from moving forward.
Since there was no official confirmation explaining the decision, those reports remain unverified.
Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana Brings the Epic Back to the Big Screen
Years later, director Nitesh Tiwari revived the idea of a large-scale live-action adaptation with an entirely new cast.
The upcoming film features:
- Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram
- Sai Pallavi as Sita
- Yash as Ravana
- Ravie Dubey as Lakshman
- Sunny Deol as Hanuman
- Arun Govil as King Dashrath
- Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi
- Rakul Preet Singh as Shurpanakha
- Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari
- Vivek Oberoi as Vidyutjihva
- Kunal Kapoor as Indra
- Anupam Kher as the voice of Jatayu
Earlier speculation suggested Amitabh Bachchan would lend his voice to Jatayu, but the makers later confirmed that veteran actor Anupam Kher would voice the character.
Release Plan
According to the makers, Ramayana is being developed as a two-part cinematic saga.
- Part One: Scheduled for theatrical release on November 6, 2026, around the Diwali festival.
- Part Two: Planned for a Diwali 2027 release.
The production is among the biggest Indian film projects currently in development and has attracted attention for its scale, visual ambition and ensemble cast.
A Look Back at an Unmade Bollywood Epic
Although Hrithik Roshan’s The Legend of Ram never materialized, the project remains one of Bollywood’s notable “what could have been” productions. With Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana now moving toward release, audiences will finally get to see a new cinematic interpretation of one of India’s most celebrated epics.
