Did Jaideep Ahlawat Turn Down a Role in Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana? Here's What We Found Out

Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana is already one of the most awaited films in Bollywood. With a powerful star cast including Ranbir as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana, this mythological project is creating major buzz. Now, another big name was reportedly approached to join the epic – Jaideep Ahlawat. But he had to let it go.

Jaideep, who has impressed audiences with his intense performances in shows like Paatal Lok and films like Raazi, is currently busy promoting his upcoming action film Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins. Amidst this, a report from ETimes has revealed that director Nitesh Tiwari had approached Jaideep for the role of Vibhishana, Ravana’s younger brother who supports Lord Rama in the epic.

While the actor was interested in taking up the role, he had to say no. The reason? His packed schedule. Due to prior commitments, he couldn’t manage the dates for Ramayana. It’s surely a missed opportunity, as fans would have loved to see him in a mythological role.

The film already features a massive cast – apart from Ranbir, Sai, and Yash, names like Sunny Deol, Lara Dutta, and Kunal Kapoor are also part of the two-part project. Directed by Dangal fame Nitesh Tiwari, the film is being produced by Namit Malhotra. Talking about the project, Malhotra earlier said, “More than a decade ago, I embarked on a noble quest to bring this epic that has ruled billions of hearts for over 5000 years to the big screen." He added, “Join us as we fulfill our dream of bringing our greatest epic to life with pride and reverence… Part 1 in Diwali 2026 and Part 2 in Diwali 2027."

Meanwhile, Jaideep Ahlawat will be seen next in Jewel Thief, which hits Netflix on April 25, 2025. Directed by Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal, the movie also stars Saif Ali Khan, Nikita Dutta, and Kunal Kapoor. The song Jaadu, featuring Jaideep’s cool dance moves, is already a hit online, making fans more excited for his new action-packed role.