
AR Rahman On Ramayana Collab With Hans Zimmer: ‘Who Would've Imagined This?'
AR Rahman on collaborating with Hans Zimmer for Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana: 'It's our Indian culture, and I'm proud of this project.' The epic releases Diwali 2026–27.
Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming Ramayana is shaping up to be the most ambitious Indian film ever made—and now it has a soundtrack to match. The magnum opus, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as the formidable Ravana, will boast an epic musical score jointly crafted by none other than two-time Oscar-winner A.R. Rahman and Hollywood legend Hans Zimmer, famed for his work on Dune, Interstellar, and The Dark Knight.
In a recent interview with Connect Cine, Rahman reflected on the dreamlike nature of this collaboration. 'Who would've imagined me scoring with Hans Zimmer on a project like Ramayana, one of the biggest films? It's our Indian culture, and I'm really proud of that project. I hope everything goes well," he said, visibly moved by the scale and cultural significance of the film.
Rahman also opened up about how much the landscape of Indian cinema has transformed, both in terms of storytelling and sound. 'The way films are being made, the way music is being composed in India—it's evolved so beautifully. Reinvention is the key," he noted, stressing how he's constantly exploring new creative terrain.
The collaboration between Rahman and Zimmer has already spanned continents. 'The first few sessions we had were great," Rahman revealed. 'The first session was in London, the second one in LA, and the third was in Dubai. Wherever Hans travels, I also find a base there."
He also shared insight into their dynamic: 'He is very similar to me in how curious he is about different cultures and how open he is to criticism. He also heads the narrative and often says things like, 'Hey, I can't understand this—can I bring in a Western perspective?' That openness is rare and beautiful."
Produced by Namit Malhotra and Yash, Ramayana is slated for a two-part release during Diwali in 2026 and 2027. Also featuring Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, the film's first teaser—unveiled earlier this month—offered tantalizing glimpses of Ranbir and Yash in their mythic avatars, igniting widespread excitement online.
With Zimmer and Rahman steering the musical odyssey, Ramayana promises not only to be a cinematic event, but also a landmark moment in global music collaboration.
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