Ramayana World Premiere in LA: Ranbir, Yash, Sai Pallavi Shine

Indian cinema's most ambitious mythological project has finally been seen by an audience. Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana Part 1 held its world premiere on October 27 (US time) at the David Geffen Theatre inside the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. Ranbir Kapoor, who plays Lord Rama, walked the red carpet with Yash, who plays Ravana, and Sai Pallavi, who plays Sita, alongside the director and producer Namit Malhotra. The film opens in Indian cinemas and worldwide on November 5.

A Diwali-themed night in Hollywood

The invite-only screening was held in 3D, with a Diwali-themed red carpet and guests encouraged to wear traditional Indian attire. Reports said the event drew a full house of around 945 guests, including Hollywood names, international press and industry members. Yash attended with his wife Radhika Pandit, and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari was also present.

The moment that caught fire on social media was simple: Ranbir and Yash sharing a warm hug on the carpet. For fans who have waited years to see the two stars as rivals on screen, the off-screen camaraderie was a pleasant contrast.

Yash on roots and AI in dubbing

Yash, who makes his Hindi film debut with Ramayana, spoke with pride about where he comes from. "Where you come from will never stop how far you can go," he said, adding that he was proud to be an Indian and a Kannadiga.

He also addressed a question many viewers have been asking about multilingual releases. "No AI has been used in dubbing. Dubbing is done by dubbing artistes and AI is only used for lip-syncing," Yash said, drawing a clear line between technology and voice performance.

Sai Pallavi's Part 2 update

Sai Pallavi offered a small but telling update about the sequel. Asked whether both parts were shot together, she replied in a video that has been widely shared online, "I haven't started filming yet." Part 2 is currently slated for 2027, although some social media posts have claimed it may move to 2028. There is no official confirmation of a change so far.

Ramayana Part 1: key facts

What it means for Indian cinema

Choosing the Academy Museum for a world premiere is a statement of intent. Indian films have premiered abroad before, but rarely has a project this large been launched first in front of a Hollywood audience. With Sony Pictures reportedly handling distribution outside India and Dharma Productions handling the Hindi-speaking market, the makers are clearly aiming for a global audience, not just the diaspora.

The combination of Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman on the music and DNEG on visual effects also raises expectations on the technical front. After a year in which big-screen spectacles have dominated the box office, Ramayana is easily one of the most anticipated releases of the year.

Why fans are excited

The story of Rama, Sita and Ravana is one that almost every Indian family knows, which makes any big-screen retelling both exciting and risky. Viewers will judge the film on how faithfully and respectfully it tells the epic, as much as on its visual effects. Premiere guests also buzzed about a post-credits scene that reportedly sets up a bigger role for Sunny Deol's Hanuman, adding to the curiosity around Part 2. For Ranbir, the role is a major shift from his recent intense, action-heavy characters, while for Sai Pallavi it marks her biggest Hindi project so far.

What happens next

The film arrives in theatres on November 5, with paid previews reportedly planned a day earlier. Advance bookings and early reviews from the premiere audience will shape the buzz over the coming week. For now, the LA night has given fans their first glimpse of the trio together, and plenty to talk about until the curtain rises at home.

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