Actor Addinath Kothare Shares First-Day Experience on Set of Upcoming Epic Ramayana

Actor Addinath Kothare has opened up about his surreal first day on the set of the upcoming epic film Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari.

Cast and Crew

Kothare stars as Bharat in the high-profile project alongside an ensemble cast that includes Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. The film also features Sunny Deol, Yash, Anupam Kher, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor, Arun Govil, Indira Krishnan, and Lara Dutta. It is backed by producers Namit Malhotra and Yash under Prime Focus Studios, Monster Mind Creations, and DNEG. The creative team features director Nitesh Tiwari, director of photography Pankaj Kumar, and music composers AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer.

First-Day Memories

Recalling his initial experience shooting in Ayodhya with co-stars like Ranbir Kapoor, Ravi Dubey, and Sai Pallavi, Kothare described the feeling as completely surreal. While staying in character during the shoot helped him maintain focus, he admitted that coming home to sit with his family made him realize the massive scale of the project. He noted that growing up listening to the music of composers like Hans Zimmer, known for films such as The Dark Knight, makes his involvement in this prestigious venture feel especially fortunate.

Release Details

Makers announced that the two-part film will hit theatres worldwide on November 5, arriving three days before Diwali. The announcement was timed to coincide with the beginning of Navratri on Sunday. The project is mounted on a massive budget of ₹ 4,000 crore, making it one of the most expensive films ever made in India. The story is based on the ancient Sanskrit epic Ramayana by Valmiki, which follows the life and trials of Lord Rama, the Prince of Ayodhya.

Context

Large-scale mythological adaptations in Indian cinema often rely on massive budgets, extensive visual effects, and high-profile ensemble casts to retell traditional epics for modern audiences. Projects of this scale typically involve years of planning, pre-production, and massive global distribution networks to reach audiences worldwide. The involvement of international composers like Hans Zimmer alongside Indian icons like AR Rahman highlights a growing trend of cross-cultural musical collaborations in major Indian blockbusters.