Reports suggest a casting change in director Nitesh Tiwari’s much-anticipated epic “Ramayana”, with actor Raghav Juyal likely stepping into a key role previously linked to Vikrant Massey.

According to Variety India, Juyal has been brought on board to portray Meghanad, the son of Raavan, replacing Massey in the role. The character is expected to appear in the second instalment of the two-part film series.

“Ramayana” has already drawn considerable attention for its star-studded cast, which includes Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash and Sunny Deol. The project is being mounted on a grand scale, with the makers opting to shoot both parts simultaneously.

A source earlier told Pinkvilla that the two films will be shot over an extensive schedule spanning around 350 days, with releases planned within a year of each other. As a result, work on the second part is expected to begin even before the first instalment reaches cinemas.

The second film is reportedly being targeted for release around Diwali 2027. Since a significant portion of the sequel will be filmed ahead of the first film’s release, Juyal is expected to join the sets soon.

Ranbir Kapoor is set to play a character inspired by Lord Ram, with Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Raavan and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. Reports have also suggested that Vijay Sethupathi is being considered for the role of Vibhishana, though no official confirmation has been made.

The ensemble cast further includes Ravie Dubey, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Arun Govil and Kunal Kapoor, among others.