Faisal Malik: Ramayana Part 2 has ‘so much more in store’
Faisal Malik, who plays Kumbhakarna, says Ramayana Part 2 has much more in store and recalls Hollywood-level prep on the two-part epic.
Faisal Malik wants audiences to hold their excitement for the second chapter of Ramayana. The actor, who plays Kumbhakarna in Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part epic, told Variety India that the making of the films gave him flashbacks of Hollywood behind-the-scenes videos he has watched — and that the sequel will reward the wait.
The teaser from Kumbhakarna
Malik stayed careful about specifics. “I obviously cannot get into the details at the moment,” he said. But he described the preparation and process as a signal he was part of a “landmark project,” adding that the Hollywood-style workflow convinced him he was “in very good hands.”
He also pointed to the international talent attached to the film. DNEG, the eight-time Oscar-winning VFX studio, is handling the visual effects, while Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman are collaborating on the score. Several action directors and stunt performers come from Hollywood.
“The thrill of working with a new team and with geniuses from the West was so exciting,” Malik said. “We had to go through a lot of prep, and now I want the audience to like it. I have never seen something like this happen in India. It was an out-of-this-world experience for me.”
Then came the direct pitch: “You should wait and watch Part 2, there is so much more in store.”
Why the sequel tease matters
This is not a throwaway line from a supporting player. Ramayana is being mounted as one of the most ambitious projects ever attempted in Hindi cinema, with a budget the makers say rivals Hollywood blockbusters. The cast includes Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios is producing with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations.
- Part One: Worldwide release on November 5, 2026, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
- Part Two: Set for Diwali 2027.
- Distribution: Sony Pictures handles global markets excluding India, while Dharma Productions takes the Hindi-speaking market.
- Format: A worldwide IMAX release is planned.
The comment lands while the first teaser and trailer have already put the film’s scale on screen. By telling viewers there is “much more” ahead, Malik is reframing Part One as a warm-up rather than the main event — a confident move for a project that still has to win over audiences across five languages and a worldwide IMAX footprint.
For Bollywood watchers, the production is also a case study in how Indian cinema is importing Hollywood craft. Having a member of the cast compare the shoot to Hollywood BTS videos makes that crossover feel tangible, not just a marketing line. Fans can take the practical cue: watch the first film on the biggest screen possible, because the sequel is already being positioned as the bigger payoff.
Source: Hindustan Times
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