A behind-the-scenes look at Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana has come from an unusual source: the stunt performer who doubled for Ranbir Kapoor in the film. Luke Ioannou, a Hollywood stunt professional, posted a series of never-before-seen pictures from the shoot on Instagram and had simple, direct praise for the Bollywood star. The post arrived just days after Ramayana: Part One opened in theatres worldwide on November 5, 2026, and crossed the ₹220 crore mark at the global box office within two days.
Who Is Luke Ioannou and What Did He Share?
Luke Ioannou is an Australian stunt performer whose credits include major international productions such as Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman 1984, No Time to Die, and The Batman. He has also worked on the fantasy series House of the Dragon, which is known for its large-scale battle sequences and elaborate action choreography.
In his Instagram post, Ioannou confirmed that he served as Ranbir Kapoor’s stunt double in Ramayana. The pictures he shared show him in costume alongside Ranbir, as well as detailed looks at the film’s action setups. His caption was short but clear about his experience working with the actor.
“Feeling incredibly privileged to have been part of telling such an important story on Ramayana, stunt doubling for Ranbir Kapoor, truly one of the best actors I’ve had the pleasure of working with.”
He also thanked Ian Van Temperley and the Stunt Alliance Group for bringing him on board, and extended gratitude to the cast and crew. “An unforgettable journey, and truly humbled to have been a part of it,” he added.
What the BTS Pictures Reveal About Ramayana’s Action
The images Ioannou posted offer a closer look at how the film’s action sequences were put together. One photo shows a performer in a traditional golden-brown outfit with layers of rudraksha beads and hair tied in a topknot, standing next to Ranbir. Another image shows a detailed costume with a leather-like chest piece and a maroon dhoti, set against artificial rocky structures.
The post also includes shots of the technical side of production. A stunt performer can be seen standing on a large mechanical rig built to resemble a mythical creature, with multiple wires attached and a blue-screen backdrop behind it. Another picture shows a massive camera rig positioned for a shot, indicating the scale of equipment used for the film’s action scenes.
These photos add to what is already known about the film’s production design. Ramayana: Rise of a Legend was built on a reported budget of ₹4,000 crore for both parts combined, with over 150 distinct sets constructed at Prime Focus Studios in Mumbai’s Film City. The production began construction in April 2024. Props included a Ravana throne that took four months to complete and cost around ₹1 crore, finished with 24-karat gold leafing. A functional chariot for the character of Surpanakha required three months of labour and cost approximately ₹1.5 crore.
The Film’s Cast and Release
Ramayana: Part One stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and also features him in a dual role as Parshurama. Sai Pallavi plays Sita, Yash plays Ravana, Sunny Deol plays Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey plays Lakshman. The supporting cast includes Arun Govil as King Dasharath, Lara Dutta, Rakul Preet Singh, Kajal Aggarwal, Vivek Oberoi, and Kunal Kapoor.
The film released worldwide in theatres on November 5, 2026, in Hindi and English, across IMAX and premium large formats. Advance booking in India opened on October 20, 2026, coinciding with Dussehra.
Box Office Performance in the First Two Days
By the end of its second day, Ramayana: Part One had collected approximately ₹221.05 crore gross worldwide, according to industry tracker Sacnilk. The domestic net collection stood at ₹112.90 crore, while overseas gross reached ₹86.25 crore.
The film opened with ₹64.85 crore net in India on its first day. On day two, it added ₹48.05 crore net, a decline of around 25.9 per cent. The Hindi version drove most of the domestic numbers, while the Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam dubbed versions trailed behind. Overseas markets contributed significantly, with the film crossing $10 million in international earnings by the end of day two.
A Two-Part Story With a Long Production Timeline
Ramayana is planned as a two-part adaptation. The second instalment was originally announced for Diwali 2027 but has since been moved to 2028, according to recent reports. Ranbir Kapoor said in an interview that roughly 50 per cent of the second part had already been filmed before the first part reached theatres.
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The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari, produced by Namit Malhotra under Prime Focus Studios, and co-produced by Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. The music score comes from A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer. Tiwari co-wrote the adaptation with Shridhar Raghavan.
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