Lara Dutta's Queen Kaikeyi and Sheeba Chaddha's Manthara Unveiled in Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayana'

• by Akanksha Mishra
• 2026-10-10 07:35:00

Anticipation surrounding director Nitesh Tiwari's monumental mythological spectacle Ramayana reached a whole new peak on Friday as producer Namit Malhotra officially unveiled character posters of two pivotal figures who alter the course of the ancient epic: Lara Dutta as Queen Kaikeyi and Sheeba Chaddha as the scheming maid Manthara. The reveal offers an intense visual glimpse into the emotional catalyst behind Lord Rama’s fourteen-year exile, showcasing regal power, maternal vulnerability, and toxic manipulation.

Regal Elegance and Cunning Whispers: The First Look

The character designs present an uncompromising visual distinction between royal majesty and subterranean palace politics:

Lara Dutta’s Regal Splendor: Draped in ornate, heavy traditional silks, layered royal necklaces, and authentic ornaments as the beloved queen of Ayodhya, Lara Dutta embodies both regal authority and inner defiance.

Sheeba Chaddha’s Gritty Transformation: Stripping away typical royal luxury, Sheeba Chaddha steps into the role of Manthara holding a bundle of possessions, projecting calculation, bitterness, and sharp intent in her eyes.

Makers' Evocative Tease: Accompanying the official poster launch, the creators penned a poignant description capturing their narrative roles: "A queen. A mother. Two desires that betray a father's love, which will change Ram's fate forever. A trusted companion. A cunning mind whose whispers will turn a mother's love into the darkest hour for an entire kingdom. Lara Dutta as Queen Kaikeyi. Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara."

Follows Arun Govil’s Landmark Return as King Dasharatha

The poster drops arrive shortly after the team revealed veteran actor Arun Govil as King Dasharatha:

Generational Nostalgia: Govil, whose iconic portrayal of Lord Rama in Ramanand Sagar's classic 1987 television serial defined the deity for generations of Indian viewers, makes an emotional homecoming to the mythological universe, this time stepping into the shoes of the grief-stricken patriarch of the Raghuvanshi dynasty.

The Ayodhya Turning Point: Together with Govil’s Dasharatha, Kaikeyi’s fateful two boons and Manthara’s manipulative instigation represent the crucial narrative fulcrum that drives the central conflict and sets Lord Rama on his transformative path.

Stellar Star Cast and Global Two-Part Cinematic Release

Produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios in collaboration with eight-time Academy Award-winning visual effects studio DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations, Ramayana is engineered as a global cinematic franchise:

Ensemble Powerhouse: The mega-production stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Rocking Star Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshmana.

Dual-Part Release Strategy: Conceptualized as a high-budget two-part cinematic saga, Ramayana: Part 1 is slated for a worldwide festive theatrical release on Diwali 2026, followed by Part 2 hitting global screens on Diwali 2027 across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.

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