Anurag Basu, who previously directed Ranbir Kapoor in the film Barfi, has expressed his admiration for Kapoor's portrayal of Lord Rama in the upcoming film Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari. The actor's first look was recently unveiled alongside the film's teaser, which received mixed reviews. However, Kapoor's look as Rama was positively received. Basu remarked on the courage it takes for actors to step outside their comfort zones, noting that Kapoor has successfully embraced the challenging role. He stated, 'It takes a lot of courage for an actor to say yes, because people put actors in boxes in our industry.' Producer Namit Malhotra echoed Basu's sentiments, celebrating Kapoor's inclusion in the TIME100 list and calling him the 'finest' actor of this generation. The film features a talented ensemble cast, including Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. Ramayana: Part 1 is set to hit theaters globally during Diwali 2026, with the second part expected to follow in Diwali 2027.