'Ramayana' Twist: Ranbir & Yash Won't Come Face-to-Face - And Why it Works

Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious adaptation of Ramayan is shaping up to be one of the most feverishly awaited cinematic spectacles in recent memory, not just for its towering scale or the spiritual gravitas it carries, but also for the collision of marquee names that headline the cast. With Ranbir Kapoor cast as Lord Ram and Yash taking on the formidable mantle of Raavan, one might imagine the screen to crackle with their on-screen face-offs. But intriguingly, and almost paradoxically, despite being the biggest draws of the project, the two stars will barely share screen space at all.

Sources close to the production have revealed a creative decision rooted not in stunt casting or star clashes, but in scriptural fidelity. “The makers have chosen to stay true to the original Valmiki text, where Lord Ram and Raavan do not encounter each other through most of the epic. Their worlds remain apart, their stories unfolding in parallel until destiny brings them face-to-face in the climactic battle. As per the original narrative, Ram learns of Raavan’s existence only after Sita’s abduction, and the two never meet until the battlefield confrontation in Lanka,” a source revealed.

This fidelity to the text is not just an act of reverence, it’s a calculated creative choice. By keeping Ranbir and Yash’s characters geographically and narratively apart for the bulk of the runtime, the film allows both arcs to evolve with undistracted clarity. This decision injects a slow-burning anticipation into the storytelling. The audience is invited to witness two grand yet diametrically opposite journeys—one rooted in dharma and restraint, the other in ego and conquest—without the spectacle of early confrontation. When their worlds finally collide, the moment carries tectonic emotional and dramatic weight, unburdened by earlier teasers.

It’s a move that, on the face of it, feels risky in a star-obsessed industry that often engineers gratuitous interactions between its lead actors just to stoke fan hysteria. But in resisting that impulse, Tiwari has committed to a mode of storytelling that is more immersive, more earned, and possibly more timeless. The mythic grandeur of Ramayan doesn’t demand artificial moments of crossover. It thrives on the inevitability of destiny, the slow ticking of karmic build-up, and the eventual showdown that carries the entire arc of righteousness versus ambition.

Interestingly, Yash—whose Raavan promises to be a dark, brooding force—will still be prominently featured, just not opposite Kapoor. He has key scenes with Sai Pallavi, who plays Sita, and Sunny Deol, cast as Hanuman. Though there had been murmurs of Yash sharing frames with Ranbir, scheduling logistics and aesthetic continuity threw a spanner in the works. Ranbir is currently immersed in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War, alongside Vicky Kaushal and Alia Bhatt, a film that demands a specific look. Given that the shooting schedule of Ramayan has already seen delays, it’s not feasible for him to alter his appearance again to accommodate overlapping scenes.

Ramayan’s Bold Narrative Gamble

Meanwhile, the production continues to push ahead on sprawling sets designed with immense attention to detail. The film will be unveiled in two installments—Ramayan: Part One scheduled for Diwali 2026, and Part Two following suit in Diwali 2027. While Ranbir Kapoor has wrapped up his portions, Yash began filming his sequences after a spiritually symbolic visit to the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain earlier this May.

What makes this decision artistically delicious is the restraint it demands—restraint not just in storytelling, but in production choices, narrative pacing, and even star management. This separation of Ram and Raavan underscores the team’s commitment to not just adapting the Ramayan, but truly understanding it. Tiwari isn’t interested in superficial spectacle—he’s attempting to bottle the essence of an epic.

In doing so, he opens a fascinating narrative corridor. This kind of structure allows for an expansive character build-up. We will likely see Ram’s journey as a moral compass intensify in solitude, and Raavan’s descent into vainglorious defiance build independently. The result is a cinematic chessboard where pieces move in their own rhythm until the endgame, where fates intertwine.

It’s also a clever way to test waters. Keeping the two apart gives the creators space and time to gauge audience reactions to Part One, and accordingly modulate the eventual face-off in Part Two. Whether they choose to lean into a grand operatic duel or a more meditative climax, the seeds of that treatment lie in how the first installment is received. Ultimately, this is a brave and riveting decision—an act of restraint that echoes the epic’s own philosophical core. In an era of narrative shortcuts and star-studded gimmicks, Ramayan is choosing to play the long game. It’s not just telling a story. It’s honouring a saga.