The makers of the highly anticipated epic Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, have unveiled the first character poster of Jatayu, the legendary divine bird from the Sanskrit epic, who will be voiced by veteran actor Anupam Kher. The poster was released on 13 October 2026 as part of the film's ongoing character poster campaign, titled 'The Wings of Dharma'.

What the Poster Shows

The reveal comprises two visuals — a striking close-up of Jatayu's intense gaze, and a sweeping image of the majestic bird with his wings spread wide. The makers accompanied the poster with a message: 'When evil took flight, courage rose to meet it. He fought not for victory, but for what was right. Jatayu. The Wings of Dharma. Anupam Kher as Jatayu in Ramayana.'

The unveiling follows earlier character poster releases for Lord Ram, Kaikeyi, and several other key figures from the epic.

Jatayu's Role in the Ramayana

In the ancient epic, Jatayu is revered for his selfless attempt to rescue Sita from the demon king Ravana, fully aware of the near-impossible odds he faced. His sacrifice has long been considered one of the most poignant episodes in the Ramayana, embodying the values of courage, dharma, and devotion. Casting Anupam Kher — one of Hindi cinema's most respected character actors — to voice the role is seen as a deliberate choice to lend gravitas to the character.

Full Cast and Production Details

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the two-part cinematic epic is produced by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios in collaboration with DNEG and actor Yash's production banner Monster Mind Creations. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. The film will release in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.

Release Timeline and Promotional Activity

The first part of Ramayana is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on 5 November 2026, with the second part slated for Diwali 2027. The production recently held a promotional event in Mumbai, which drew significant attention when global YouTuber MrBeast joined Kapoor, Pallavi, and Malhotra on stage. However, the event reportedly drew criticism after it began approximately four hours late, with media representatives expressing frustration over the delay and a perceived lack of communication from organisers. The team is said to have subsequently managed the situation.

Separately, reports have suggested that Ranbir Kapoor gave up non-vegetarian food and alcohol during his preparation to portray Lord Rama, though whether these lifestyle changes were made specifically for the role or as part of a broader personal health effort has been a subject of discussion.

With just weeks to go before the first part's release, the character poster campaign is expected to continue building anticipation for what is being positioned as one of Indian cinema's most ambitious mythological productions.