MUMBAI — For all the scale on display in Ramayana: Part 1, the moment generating the most conversation online came after the main story had ended. Viewers who stayed through the closing credits on Thursday were rewarded with the first on-screen glimpse of Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, and social media has not stopped talking about it since.
A reveal saved for the end
The makers chose to hold Hanuman back until the end of the film. In the post-credit sequence, according to reports from early shows, the character is introduced against a powerful musical backdrop, with his face kept hidden for most of the scene. Only selected glimpses are shown, which preserves a degree of mystery about the full look.
Towards the end, a wider shot shows Hanuman flying through the air with his mace, chanting “Jai Shri Ram”. The Hanuman Chalisa plays in the background, sung by a line-up that includes Diljit Dosanjh, Sukhwinder Singh, Mohit Chauhan, Kailash Kher and Anirudh Ravichander. The sequence is short, but it is built to leave an impression.
Why Hanuman matters to the story
Anyone familiar with the epic knows how central Hanuman becomes after Ravana abducts Sita. He travels to Lanka to find her, becomes one of Rama’s closest allies and plays a decisive role in preparations for the final war. Those events fall in the second part of the story, which is scheduled to reach cinemas in 2028.
By keeping the character’s first appearance to a post-credit scene, the makers signal where the narrative is heading and give audiences a reason to look forward to the sequel. The decision also reflects a broader trend in big-budget Indian cinema, where franchises are built in layers and end-credit scenes are used to maintain interest between instalments.
A second introduction
Another character was introduced just before Hanuman. Raghav Juyal appears as Meghnad, the eldest son of Ravana and crown prince of Lanka, offering another glimpse of a figure expected to play a major part in the next film. Together, the two scenes position the first film as groundwork for a much larger war narrative.
The cast behind the film
Ramayana: Part 1 is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, with Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The production is led by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios in association with DNEG, and with Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. It opened worldwide on Thursday, November 5, just ahead of Diwali.
For Sunny Deol, the appearance adds to a busy stretch. He is also set to appear in the Hindi thriller Suryaa: Ant Se Aarambh Tak, an official remake of the acclaimed 2018 Malayalam film Joseph, which is scheduled for November 20.
Reaction from audiences
Online reactions to the scene have been enthusiastic, with many viewers highlighting the music and the restraint of the reveal. Some viewers said the short scene did more to build anticipation for the sequel than long stretches of the film itself. As with any opening-day reaction, impressions vary, and the scene’s impact is likely to be judged more clearly once the full second instalment arrives.
The film’s own performance has also been strong in its first hours. Trade estimates put its Day 1 India net at around ₹33 crore by late afternoon, driven mainly by the Hindi version.
What comes next
The makers have not shared a complete look at Deol’s Hanuman, and that may be intentional. With a gap of roughly two years before the sequel, the post-credit tease gives the production team a long runway to build anticipation through posters, teasers and music.
For now, audiences have what the makers wanted them to have: a short, striking scene and an open question about what Hanuman will look like when the story moves on.
