Ranbir Kapoor and Yash jet off to San Diego Comic-Con as 'Ramayana' prepares its biggest global reveal yet

Ranbir Kapoor and Yash have officially headed to the United States for one of the biggest promotional events in Indian cinema history.

The two stars were spotted at Mumbai airport early Wednesday (22) before flying to San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2026, where they will unveil Ramayana, director Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious adaptation of the ancient Indian epic. Joining them at the event are director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra.

As photographers gathered at the airport, Ranbir looked surprised by the late-night crowd and smiled, saying, "Itni raat bhai" before heading toward security.

Their appearance at Comic-Con signals far more than a routine movie promotion. It marks India's latest attempt to place one of its biggest productions on the global entertainment stage. This time, however, the strategy is different. Rather than introducing an original science-fiction world, Ramayana is being presented as a premium Eastern epic, bringing one of the world's oldest and most influential stories to an international audience with blockbuster-scale production values.

The Comic-Con showcase follows the film's grand Pratham Sankalp launch in New Delhi on July 18 and builds on the team's successful presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas earlier this year, where exhibitors got an early look at the project. Now, the filmmakers are taking the next step by introducing the movie directly to fans at one of the world's largest pop culture conventions.

The Ramayana presentation will take place on Thursday (23) in Ballroom 20, one of Comic-Con's most prestigious venues, which can host roughly 4,800 attendees. The panel is expected to feature exclusive footage from the film and the launch of its first official trailer before it is released online on Friday (24).

For India, this is one of the most ambitious international marketing campaigns ever mounted for a film.

How Ramayana differs from Kalki 2898 AD

The obvious comparison is Kalki 2898 AD, which made headlines when it debuted at San Diego Comic-Con in 2023.

While both films used Comic-Con to introduce Indian cinema to a global audience, they are taking very different approaches.

Kalki 2898 AD promoted a futuristic science-fiction universe inspired by Indian mythology, blending superheroes, dystopian storytelling, and advanced technology. Ramayana, by contrast, is embracing a timeless story that has been told for centuries across South and Southeast Asia.

Instead of selling audiences on a brand-new fictional universe, the filmmakers are positioning Ramayana as a lavish cinematic retelling of one of history's greatest epics. It is also being marketed with Hollywood-level visual effects from Oscar-winning VFX studio DNEG, founded by producer Namit Malhotra.

The venue also reflects the scale of the launch. While Kalki 2898 AD debuted in Comic-Con's famous Hall H, Ramayana will be showcased in Ballroom 20, another major presentation space that regularly hosts blockbuster films and television franchises.

A Global push for Indian cinema

Industry observers see the Comic-Con appearance as part of a much larger international strategy.

With a reported production budget exceeding $475 million, Ramayana ranks among the most expensive films ever made in India. The producers are aiming to position it alongside major Hollywood fantasy franchises while introducing global audiences to an ancient Indian story.

The international campaign will continue later this year with a planned showcase at the Toronto International Film Festival, further expanding the film's worldwide reach.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. The cast also includes Sunny Deol as Hanuman, alongside Lara Dutta, Kajal Aggarwal, Shobana, Rakul Preet Singh, Anupam Kher, Kunal Kapoor, and several other leading Indian actors.

The film will be released in two parts, with Part 1 scheduled for Diwali 2026 and Part 2 arriving during Diwali 2027. Unconfirmed reports suggest the first installment could see a worldwide theatrical release on November 8, 2026.

For Indian cinema, the Comic-Con presentation is about more than promoting a movie. It is an opportunity to show that stories rooted in Eastern mythology can stand alongside the biggest fantasy franchises in the world, and attract audiences far beyond their home market.