Will Two Ramayana-Themed Films Create Audience Comparisons in 2026–27 ?

Mythology continues to be a genre that attracts audiences across all ages, and two major films based on the Ramayana are currently in the spotlight. Nitish Tiwari’s Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Sriram, is a direct adaptation of Valmiki’s epic and is gearing up for a Diwali 2026 release. Meanwhile, SS Rajamouli is crafting Varanasi, a film that draws inspiration from a key moment in the Ramayana but blends it with unique elements, including time travel, mixing both Kali Yug and Treta Yug. With the film slated for a massive Summer 2027 release, the anticipation is steadily growing.

With two Ramayana-inspired films arriving within a year of each other, comparisons are inevitable. Rajamouli faces the challenge of matching or surpassing the grandeur and visual scale of Tiwari’s epic, which is being made on an enormous budget. Although audiences trust Rajamouli’s ability to deliver groundbreaking cinema, the multi-layered narrative of Varanasi could become a talking point in comparison to the more straightforward adaptation of Ramayana. Rajamouli has revealed that he will depict only one significant part of Ramayana in his film, which will serve as the emotional core of Varanasi, with Mahesh Babu portraying Lord Sriram. The fusion of eras and the time-travel concept is expected to bring a fresh, exciting dimension to the mythological narrative.