Chetan Hansraj plays seven characters in Ramayana; including Ravana's maternal grandfather

The trailer for the epic film Ramayana dropped on July 30 and has been the talk of the town for almost two weeks, with audiences buzzing about the star‑packed cast and the ambitious storytelling. While many of the leading roles are already familiar faces, one actor’s involvement is set to stand out: Chetan Hansraj, who is slated to portray a staggering seven distinct characters in the saga.

In an exclusive interview with the Hindustan Times, the 54‑year‑old actor revealed that his first role in the film is Raja Mali, the maternal grandfather of the antagonist Ravana, played by Yash. Hansraj described the character as “an important figure that went down in history” and praised his on‑screen chemistry with Yash, saying, “My scenes with Yash are pure fire. He is such a delight on screen, and these two characters complement each other wonderfully. It was huge for me.”

After completing his scenes as Raja Mali, Hansraj was approached to lend his performance to six additional motion‑capture roles, including one of Ravana’s brothers and a demon. He added that the film’s production team brought in top action directors from Hollywood and Bollywood, and technicians such as Terry Notary, to deliver a cinematic experience that would outshine past adaptations like Ramanand Sagar’s classic TV series.

Beyond Hansraj’s multi‑character showcase, Ramayana boasts a high‑profile lineup: Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari, known for Dangal (2016), and produced by Namit Malhotra. The soundtrack is a collaboration between A. R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer.

The two‑part epic is scheduled to premiere its first instalment on Diwali 2026, with a release date of November 8 in India and November 6 in international markets. The second part is slated for Diwali 2027. Fans of the mythological genre can look forward to a grand cinematic experience that promises to blend traditional storytelling with cutting‑edge technology.