Not just Raja Mali, Chetan Hansraj plays SEVEN roles in Ranbir Kapoor and Yash’s ‘Ramayana’- Read what all characters he plays

Chetan Hansraj has revealed an unusual detail about his involvement in ‘Ramayana’. The actor is set to appear as seven different characters in Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part mythological epic. One of his key roles is Raja Mali, the maternal grandfather of Ravana. Yash plays the legendary antagonist in the movie. Chetan Hansraj will share screen space with Yash in scenes involving their characters. The actor’s multiple roles became a talking point following the release of the Ramayana trailer on July 30. His portrayal of Raja Mali is one of the performances he has discussed ahead of the movie’s release.

Chetan Hansraj praises Yash

Chetan Hansraj spoke about his experience working with Yash as part of the project. He described their scenes as an important part of his journey in the movie. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Chetan Hansraj said, “Raja Mali is an important character that went down in history, and my scenes with Yash are pure fire. He is such a delight on screen, and these two characters complement each other wonderfully. It was huge for me.” The actor’s role in the movie did not end with his work as Raja Mali. After completing those portions, he was offered additional characters that required motion-capture performances.

Six more motion-capture characters

Chetan Hansraj revealed that the makers asked him to take on six more roles after his scenes as Raja Mali were completed. These include characters from the world surrounding Ravana. He said, “After my part was wrapped, I was offered six motion-capture characters, including one of Ravana’s brothers and a demon.” The identities of the other characters have not been revealed. The motion-capture work is expected to expand Chetan Hansraj’s presence across different portions of the epic. Taking on multiple characters also reflects the scale of the production. The movie is being mounted with extensive visual effects and international technical expertise.

Chetan Hansraj addresses Ramayana comparisons

The upcoming movie has faced comparisons with Ramanand Sagar’s iconic television series Ramayan. The earlier adaptation remains deeply familiar to Indian audiences. Chetan Hansraj said the new movie should be viewed as a modern cinematic interpretation. He also highlighted the expertise of the action directors and technicians involved in the production. “We have the best action directors from Hollywood and Bollywood, and technicians on board, like Terry Notary... Makers today want to give the best cinematic experience, and that’s a vision we should understand. People who once see it on the right medium will forget all these comparisons, I am sure.”

‘Ramayana’ cast and release details

‘Ramayana’ features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi as Sita. Yash portrays Ravana, while Sunny Deol plays Lord Hanuman. Ravie Dubey is set to appear as Lakshman. Nitesh Tiwari is directing the movie, while Namit Malhotra is producing it. A R Rahman and Hans Zimmer are composing the music for the ambitious project. The story is being planned as a two-part saga. Ramayana: Part 1 is scheduled to release in India on November 8, 2026, during Diwali. The international release is planned for November 6.‘Ramayana: Part 2’ is expected to reach theatres during Diwali 2027.