Suriya as Rama, Alia Bhatt as Sita? Vishnu Manchu's Ramayana casting creates buzz

In a recent interview with Nayandeep Rakshit, actor and producer Vishnu Manchu revealed that he has had a script about Ravana for years.

Mythology continues to be a growing fascination in Indian cinema, and filmmakers continue to love the Ramayana. Following Om Raut's Adipurush's lacklustre reception in 2023—despite its ambitious concept—several producers have revealed their versions of the ancient epic.

Another mythological reimagining is in the works, even as Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious two-part Ramayana, which stars Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash, is presently in production and scheduled for release on Diwali in 2026.

In a recent interview with Nayandeep Rakshit, actor and producer Vishnu Manchu revealed that he has had a script about Ravana for years. It is a distinct take on the Ramayana that follows the demon king's life from conception to death. The Kannappa actor disclosed that plans to cast Tamil actor Suriya as Lord Rama were first conceived in 2009.

In 2009, I had asked Suriya to play Rama. The renowned K. Raghavendra Rao was on board to direct the movie, and the dialogue and script are ready. Ravana was supposed to be played by my father. However, financial limitations kept it from happening," Manchu disclosed, raising doubts about the movie's eventual production.

Manchu reaffirmed his desire to cast Alia Bhatt as Sita and Suriya as Rama when asked about his ideal cast for the film. Additionally, he expressed interest in portraying Lord Hanuman himself; however, Raghavendra Rao had other ideas and recommended that he play Indrajeet instead. Manchu now thinks Karthi, Suriya's brother, would be a better fit for that position.

Regarding the remainder of the cast, Manchu revealed that he would like to cast Sathyaraj (of Baahubali fame) as Jatayu and Kalyan Ram (brother of Jr. NTR) as Lakshman. The fictitious cast suggests a pan-Indian strategy that combines skills from various sectors.

Manchu has previously experimented with mythological storytelling. He recently played the lead in the high-profile film Kannappa, which also starred Prabhas, Mohanlal, and Akshay Kumar in important divine roles. Nevertheless, Kannappa fell short of expectations at the box office, earning just Rs 41.75 crore despite its size and star power.

In the meantime, interest in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana keeps growing. With Yash playing Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, the movie promises a more realistic and striking interpretation of the epic. It is anticipated that the first instalment will be released around Diwali 2026.

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With films like Brahmastra (2022) and Kalki 2898 AD (2024) skillfully fusing mythology with fantasy and science fiction, mythological and spiritual themes have seen a resurgence in Indian cinema in recent years. These movies, supported by impressive visual effects and well-known actors, have demonstrated that there is a sizable market for these kinds of stories.

It's unclear if Vishnu Manchu's retelling of Ravana will ever be published, but his version is notable for its novel viewpoint—it tells the tale from the viewpoint of the misunderstood king of Lanka rather than Rama. This could provide an intriguing twist in a field that frequently retells old stories.