Kher responds after the Los Angeles premiere
Anupam Kher has responded to the first wave of reactions from the Los Angeles premiere of Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana. The film screened in Los Angeles on October 27, 2026, and Kher posted a video on X after the responses began circulating. In it, he said audiences were especially discussing the film’s visual look and the storytelling approach used to narrate Ramji’s journey.
“It fills the heart with pride to see that our great story is being presented on such a large international stage on a scale equal to the world’s epic films,” Kher said. He went on to credit producer Namit Malhotra, director Nitesh Tiwari, Hans Zimmer, AR Rahman and what he called “all the artists, technicians and talented actors” for making the production possible.
The moment that has given the early conversation a distinct shape, however, is Jatayu. Kher, who was announced as the voice of the vulture some weeks ago alongside a character poster, said viewers have been singling out the bird sequence. “One more thing that people are also discussing is a wonderful bird scene. That bird, Jatayu’s voice is mine, and that makes me more happy,” he said.
A two-part rollout built for scale
The film is planned as a two-part event. The first instalment is set for a worldwide release in November 2026, ahead of Diwali, and Kher urged viewers to head to cinemas on November 5, 2026. The second part is planned for Diwali 2027.
- Early reactions: visual scale and the storytelling treatment of Ramji’s journey are being noticed.
- The talking point: Jatayu’s scene is drawing attention, with Kher confirming his voice behind the role.
- The date: the first part opens in cinemas on November 5, 2026, with a second part set for Diwali 2027.
For an audience that follows the many screen lives of the Ramayana, Jatayu carries particular weight: the vulture who confronts Ravana and is wounded trying to protect Sita. Giving that role a recognisable voice such as Kher’s puts a veteran presence on one of the epic’s most emotionally charged beats.
Kher framed the release as a chance for Indian cinema to teach as well as entertain. “Let people know what they can learn from Indian cinema and the story of Ramchandraji,” he said, signing off with “Jai Shri Ram.”
The premiere’s early response matters because Ramayana is being positioned as a global-scale Indian epic rather than a domestic event alone. The combination of Indian source material and international collaborators brings the film’s craft under wider scrutiny, and a positive first reaction suggests the scale may be matching the story’s ambition.
Source: The Times of India
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