AR Rahman on working with Hans Zimmer in Ranbir Kapoor-Yash starrer Ramayana: 'Who would’ve imagined me scoring with...'

AR Rahman teaming up with Hans Zimmer for Ramayana is a musical dream come true—one that’s adding even more weight to what’s already being called the biggest Indian film ever. As the epic unfolds under Nitesh Tiwari’s direction, Rahman opens up about his journey, the collaboration, and the pride of celebrating Indian culture on a global stage.

Evolving with the Times

In an interview with Connect Cine, Rahman spoke about evolving with time and embracing the changes in Indian cinema, particularly in music and filmmaking. He expressed pride in being part of Ramayana, calling it a landmark project that celebrates Indian culture. Rahman also highlighted how special it is to collaborate with Hans Zimmer on such a grand film.




AR Rahman also shared insights into the collaborative process with Hans Zimmer, revealing that their initial sessions took place across London, Los Angeles, and Dubai. He described Zimmer as culturally curious, open to feedback, and deeply engaged with the narrative—often offering a Western perspective to better shape the storytelling through music.

An Epic in the Making

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra and Yash, Ramayana is set to release in two parts during Diwali 2026 and 2027. The epic stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The recently released first glimpse, featuring Ranbir and Yash in character, received an enthusiastic response from fans.

At the special screening of the first look, Nitesh Tiwari grew emotional while discussing Ramayana. Rather than responding as a director, he spoke as a passionate movie lover. For him, the film’s true success lies in capturing the deep emotion and pride associated with India’s rich cultural heritage. He hopes the film not only resonates with Indian audiences but also showcases the nation's values to the world.