Where Is Hanuman? Why Sunny Deol Is Missing From Ramayana Part 1 Promos
Ranbir Kapoor’s Ram, Sai Pallavi’s Sita and Yash’s Ravana have all been revealed. Yet one name in the cast list still has no face on screen: Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman.
With Ramayana: Part 1 releasing worldwide on November 5, 2026, the question “Where is Hanuman?” has become one of the biggest talking points around Nitesh Tiwari’s epic. Reports now suggest the absence is no accident. The makers may be saving Sunny Deol’s Hanuman for a theatre-shaking reveal at the very end of the film.
Here is everything we know so far about the Sunny Deol Hanuman Ramayana mystery, what the reports say, and why the strategy could pay off.
Hanuman Missing From the Ramayana Trailer: How Fans Reacted
The full trailer of Ramayana: Part 1 dropped on July 30, 2026, at 4:15 am IST, timed to the auspicious Brahma Muhurat. It introduced a large ensemble, including Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Rakul Preet Singh, Lara Dutta, Arun Govil and Vivek Oberoi.
Sunny Deol, however, did not appear even for a second. Within hours, social media filled with the same question: where is Hanuman ji? Some fans said they missed the character the most. Others started asking the makers for a second trailer built around Pavanputra Hanuman’s entry.
The curiosity is understandable. Hanuman is one of the most loved figures in the epic, and Sunny Deol, the action star of Gadar and Border, feels like natural casting for Bajrangbali’s strength. Keeping that pairing off screen has only made people want it more.
Why the Makers Are Hiding Sunny Deol’s Hanuman Look
Multiple reports say the makers have deliberately kept Sunny Deol’s look under wraps. The production has not officially explained the decision, but three reasons stand out.
- Story order. Hanuman’s major arc begins only after Sita’s abduction, which is reportedly where Part 1 ends.
- Surprise value. A character the audience has never seen in promos creates a genuine “seeti and taali” moment inside the theatre.
- Momentum for Part 2. With Ramayana: Part 2 slated for Diwali 2027, an unrevealed Hanuman gives fans a reason to stay invested for a full year.
This is a classic franchise marketing move. Revealing the look in a trailer would have spent that excitement on YouTube instead of in cinemas.
The Baahubali Trick: A Hanuman Cliffhanger at the End of Part 1?
According to a Bollywood Hungama report covered by Free Press Journal, Sunny Deol appears only towards the very end of Ramayana: Part 1. The film may actually close on his entry, either as the last scene before the credits or as a mid-credit or post-credit sequence.
The source compared the plan to SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali: The Beginning. That film ended on the question “Kattappa ne Baahubali ko kyun maara?”, which kept audiences talking for two years and helped Baahubali 2 become a phenomenon. The Ramayana team reportedly hopes Hanuman’s arrival will create a similar frenzy in cinemas.
A word of caution: this comes from an unnamed source. Until the film releases, the Hanuman ending remains a reported possibility, not a confirmed fact.
Pro tip for viewers: If the report is right, do not leave your seat when the credits begin on November 5.
Story Logic: Why Hanuman Belongs to the End of Part 1
The timing also fits the epic itself. In the Valmiki Ramayana, Hanuman meets Ram and Lakshman in the Kishkindha section, after Ravana has carried Sita away.
Ramayana: Part 1 reportedly covers Ram’s life in Ayodhya, his marriage to Sita, the 14-year exile and finally Sita Haran. If the film stops there, Hanuman naturally sits at the edge of the story.
Reports put his screen time in Part 1 at roughly 15 minutes, essentially an extended cameo. One account says the film ends with Hanuman vowing to help Ram and Lakshman in their search for Sita. That would make his entry both faithful to the source and a strong emotional bridge into Part 2.
Who Has Already Seen Sunny Deol as Hanuman?
A small group has. At CinemaCon 2026 in Las Vegas in April, an exclusive Ramayana footage presentation reportedly included a glimpse of Sunny Deol’s Hanuman. Those present described a completely new avatar, visually unlike anything the actor has done before.
Excitement grew further when exhibitors watched around 15 minutes of unreleased footage at Big Cine Expo 2026 in Chennai.
The clean-shaven look that set fans talking
Sunny Deol’s recent clean-shaven appearance, including at a Mumbai fan screening of his film Ikka, went viral. Many fans connected the fresh look to his Hanuman transformation. Neither Sunny Deol nor the makers have confirmed any link, so treat it as fan speculation.
Sunny Deol has called playing Lord Hanuman one of the biggest honours of his career.
Ramayana Part 2: Where Sunny Deol’s Hanuman Takes Over
If Part 1 is Hanuman’s introduction, Part 2 is his showcase. Reports say Sunny Deol will have a much bigger role in the sequel, with Hanuman at the centre of its drama and action.
Based on the epic, Part 2 is expected to include Hanuman’s most iconic moments:
- Crossing the ocean and searching for Sita in Lanka
- Setting Lanka on fire (Lanka Dahan)
- Bringing the Sanjeevani herb to save Lakshman
- The final war against Ravana’s army
These are the scenes fans want to see on an IMAX screen. With Hollywood action designers Terry Notary and Guy Norris on the team and DNEG handling VFX, expectations for Sunny Deol’s action as Hanuman are sky-high.
An older Pinkvilla report also claimed Nitesh Tiwari was keen on a standalone Hanuman film with Sunny Deol. There has been no official update on that spin-off.
Ramayana Part 1: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Director | Nitesh Tiwari |
| Producers | Namit Malhotra (Prime Focus Studios), with Yash’s Monster Mind Creations |
| Lord Ram | Ranbir Kapoor |
| Sita | Sai Pallavi |
| Ravana | Yash |
| Lakshman | Ravie Dubey |
| Lord Hanuman | Sunny Deol |
| Music | A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer |
| VFX | DNEG |
| Release date | November 5, 2026 (worldwide) |
| Languages | Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam (plus English internationally) |
| Formats | IMAX and other premium formats |
| Distribution | Sony Pictures (global), Dharma Productions (Hindi market) |
| Advance booking | Opened on Dussehra, October 20, 2026 |
| Part 2 | Diwali 2027 |
FAQs: Sunny Deol as Hanuman in Ramayana
Is Sunny Deol playing Hanuman in Ramayana? Yes. Sunny Deol plays Lord Hanuman in Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part Ramayana, alongside Ranbir Kapoor as Ram and Yash as Ravana.
Why is Sunny Deol not in the Ramayana trailer? Reports say the makers deliberately hid his look to create a big surprise in theatres. Hanuman’s story also begins after Sita Haran, where Part 1 reportedly ends.
How long is Sunny Deol’s role in Ramayana Part 1? Reports suggest around 15 minutes of screen time, essentially an extended cameo.
Will Ramayana Part 1 have a post-credit scene with Hanuman? A Bollywood Hungama report says his entry could be the final scene, or a mid-credit or post-credit sequence. This is not officially confirmed.
When will Sunny Deol’s Hanuman get a bigger role? In Ramayana: Part 2, scheduled for Diwali 2027.
When does Ramayana Part 1 release? November 5, 2026, worldwide, including IMAX screens.
Final Word: Hanuman Could Be Ramayana’s Biggest Surprise
Keeping a star like Sunny Deol out of every promo is a bold call, but it fits both the epic’s timeline and smart franchise marketing. If the reports hold, Hanuman’s arrival at the end of Ramayana: Part 1 could become the moment everyone discusses until Diwali 2027.
We will know on November 5. Until then, tell us in the comments: should the makers reveal Sunny Deol’s Hanuman look before release, or save it for the big screen?
Sources
- The Week: Sunny Deol’s Hanuman cameo and cliffhanger
- Free Press Journal: Part 1 to end with Hanuman’s entry
- Sacnilk: Hanuman in final sequence
- Eastern Eye: The Baahubali trick
- Khaleej Times: Trailer reactions
- Asianet Newsable: Sunny Deol’s role details
- The CSR Journal: Clean-shaven look speculation
- Siasat: Release date and distribution
- Business Today: Nov 5 vs Nov 6 confusion