Actor Sunny Deol, cast as Lord Hanuman in the much-anticipated epic Ramayana, has acknowledged that his screen time in the first part of the two-part film is limited — but signalled that his role will grow significantly in the sequel. Deol made the admission at the Pratham Sankalp event held in New Delhi on Saturday, 19 July 2025, ahead of the film's trailer launch on 24 July.

What Sunny Deol Said

Speaking candidly at the event, Deol said, 'See, to tell you the truth, I have only started my work in this film. I have to move ahead. But Ramayana is the biggest thing for us Indians. And I thank Waheguruji that I got the opportunity to play the role of Lord Hanuman. I will try my best to play the role of Lord Hanuman because it's not easy to play the role of Lord Hanuman. But it will be a lot of fun.'

He added, 'He is naughty, innocent, powerful, and you all love him. And he is a devotee of Lord Ram. We need all your blessings because Namit has taken up such a big project. But I am sure that every Indian will definitely go and watch it. Thank you.'

The Two-Part Structure and Deol's Expanding Role

Reports had earlier circulated suggesting Sunny Deol's part in the film was considerably smaller than audiences might expect. The two-part narrative structure, however, means his portrayal of Lord Hanuman — a central figure in the Ramayana's second half — is expected to be far more prominent in Part 2. This framing echoes the approach taken by several large-scale Indian mythological productions, where key characters are deliberately held back to anchor the sequel.

Pratham Sankalp: A Landmark Cultural Gathering

The Pratham Sankalp event — described as the ceremonial beginning of Ramayana's journey 'from Bharat to the World' — marked the first public assembly of the film's principal cast. The evening brought together generations of Indian cinema in celebration of one of the country's most enduring cultural narratives.

A notable moment came when actor Ranbir Kapoor, who plays Lord Ram in the film, touched the feet of Sunny Deol and renowned Indian poet Kumar Vishwas on stage — a gesture of respect that drew significant attention at the event.

What to Watch Next

The official trailer of Ramayana is set to drop on 24 July, which will offer the first substantive look at the film's scale, casting, and visual treatment. Given the cultural weight of the subject and the star-studded ensemble, the trailer is expected to be one of the most-watched Bollywood releases of the year. The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced under Namit Malhotra's banner.