Anupam Kher has officially joined Ramayana as the voice of Jatayu, the courageous bird who attempts to rescue Sita from Ravana in the Indian epic. The makers revealed the character through a poster titled Jatayu: The Wings of Dharma, featuring a close-up of the bird’s determined gaze alongside a wider image of his wings spread. The film’s first instalment, Ramayana: Part One, is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on November 5, 2026, with advance bookings set to open on October 20, coinciding with Dussehra.
The poster places Jatayu among the film’s growing collection of character reveals. While the close-up emphasises his intense, resolute expression, the wider image presents him with his wings outstretched, conveying his imposing presence and readiness to confront danger. The title, The Wings of Dharma, reflects the character’s defining act of courage: standing against Ravana to protect Sita despite the odds. Jatayu’s attempt to intervene and the information he later provides Rama make him an important figure in the events that follow.
The confirmation of Anupam Kher as Jatayu’s voice also puts an end to speculation surrounding the casting. He joins an ensemble led by Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. While these characters occupy central positions in the epic, Jatayu’s role highlights a defining moment of courage and sacrifice in the larger story.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is planned as a two-part cinematic adaptation. Prime Focus Studios, DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations are collaborating on the production, which aims to bring the epic’s characters, landscapes and large-scale confrontations to the big screen. The film has been made for IMAX and is being positioned for premium theatrical formats, with visual effects playing a significant role in building its mythological world for audiences in India and overseas.
The film’s music is another major component of the production. Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman are composing the score together, bringing two composers from different musical traditions into the same project. Their collaboration is among the production’s notable creative partnerships, complementing the combination of Indian performers and a large visual-effects team. The score will accompany a story that moves between intimate moments of duty and sacrifice and large-scale confrontations, helping establish the film’s emotional and dramatic scope.
The release schedule outlines the two-part adaptation’s theatrical plans. Ramayana: Part One is set to arrive in cinemas worldwide on November 5, 2026, with advance bookings scheduled to begin on October 20, the day of Dussehra. The second instalment is planned for a worldwide release during Diwali 2027, extending the epic across two films. The project is also intended to reach audiences in multiple Indian languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
Jatayu’s poster offers another look at the film’s visual design while introducing a character whose significance lies in his decision to act when Sita is in danger. With Anupam Kher confirmed as the voice of Jatayu, the reveal adds another dimension to the ensemble and brings renewed attention to one of the epic’s defining expressions of duty and sacrifice. As the first instalment approaches its November release, the character reveals are gradually offering audiences a closer look at the world of Rama, Sita and Ravana that the two-part adaptation will bring to cinemas.
