The tease almost nobody saw coming

Sunny Deol is the biggest name in Ramayana Part 1 who barely appears in it, and that was the plan all along. Days before the film reached Indian cinemas, India TV reported on October 28, 2026 that a post credit scene in Ramayana reportedly teases an iconic character, fuelling speculation that Sunny Deol will appear as Lord Hanuman.

The first hint came from a viewer at the Los Angeles premiere on October 27. A post shared by Rama's Screen on X on October 28 said: "Yes, Ramayana Rise of a Legend has a post-credit scene. And the post-credit scene teases that one iconic character that you've all been anticipating. You know who I'm talkin' about. Can't wait for the sequel in 2028." NDTV reported that another viewer then named the character outright as Lord Hanuman, played by Sunny Deol. The makers have not officially confirmed the details of the scene.

By the morning of release day, November 5, the reports got more specific. The Free Press Journal reported that the post credit scene shows Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, but his face is not revealed in it. In the scene, Hanuman jumps and chants "Jai Shri Ram". Times Now gave a similar account: the post credit scene features the Vanar Sena, followed by Hanuman's larger than life entry while the Hanuman Chalisa plays. Treat the hidden face as reported, not confirmed, since it comes from early audience accounts, not from an official statement by the makers.

What Sunny Deol said in Delhi

The reason Hanuman is only a tease in Part 1 was clear months before release, because Sunny Deol said so himself on stage. At the Pratham Sankalp trailer launch event in New Delhi on July 18, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, the actor made a surprise appearance near the end of the evening.

"To tell you the truth, I have done only a little work on the film so far. I still have a long way to go," he said, Bollywood Hungama reported. He thanked Waheguru for the chance to play Hanuman, and he did not hide how heavy the role felt. "Playing Hanuman ji is not easy," he added. "But I know I will enjoy it immensely. He is playful, innocent and powerful. He is loved by everyone, and above all, he is a devotee of Lord Ram."

Mid-Day reported that Sunny turned emotional on stage after a warm welcome, and said he would make every possible effort to portray Hanuman in the right way. Ranbir Kapoor, who plays Ram, greeted the veteran actor by touching his feet. Sunny also asked for everyone's blessings, and added that he was very confident every Indian would go and watch the film.

Why holding Hanuman back was the smartest move

Sunny Deol was also missing from the Ramayana trailer, unveiled on July 30, 2026, and India TV noted that his absence sparked curiosity about why the actor was not shown. The answer is now obvious, and it looks like the smartest marketing decision the makers made. By keeping Hanuman out of the trailer and out of almost the whole of Part 1, they turned a supporting appearance into the film's most valuable secret.

Every trailer reaction asked the same question: where is Hanuman, and where is Sunny Deol? That question kept the film in conversation for three months without the makers having to show a single frame of the character. Then the post credit tease paid it off in cinemas.

It also protected the performance. Hanuman in the epic is not a cameo. He is playful and innocent, immensely powerful, and the greatest devotee of Ram, in Sunny's own words from the Delhi stage. Showing a few seconds of that in a trailer would have invited a verdict before the character had a story.

What Part 2 needs from Hanuman

If Part 1 ends around the abduction of Sita, as reports suggest, then Part 2 belongs to Hanuman more than to any other character. The beats ahead are not leaks. They are the epic itself. Hanuman must find Sita in Lanka, carry Ram's message to her, and return with proof she is alive. Then comes the leap back across the ocean, the burning of Lanka, the building of the bridge to Lanka, and the war against Ravana.

Sunny Deol's own words from July underline how much of that work is still ahead of him. He had done only a little work on the film when he spoke in Delhi, which means the leap, the Lanka sequences and the war were still to be shot. Those are also the sequences Part 2 will sell itself on.

The risk is real. A Hanuman who is only playful, or only powerful, would flatten the character. Sunny's Delhi description got the balance right: playful, innocent, powerful, loved by everyone, and above all a devotee. If Part 2 holds that balance, Hanuman becomes the emotional centre of the sequel. If it does not, the tease will be remembered as the best part of his role.

Part 2 is now confirmed for Diwali 2028

One date question hung over everything Hanuman is set up to do, and it is now settled. The makers' original plan, announced by producer Namit Malhotra in November 2024, was Diwali 2027 for Part 2. That plan has changed. Malhotra has now confirmed Part 2 for Diwali 2028, telling E! News the team wanted more time to make sure the grand finale gets the scale it deserves. The end credits of Part 1 say it on screen: "Ramayana Part 2 Diwali 2028 Releasing Worldwide."

For audiences, the practical point is simple. Sunny Deol's Hanuman is coming, his face is still hidden, and his story is the reason Part 1 ends the way it does. The wait is two Diwalis, not one, and the tease has done its job.

What fans are saying on X

Rama's Screen (@RamasScreen) on X, as quoted by NDTV Profit: "Yes, Ramayana Rise of a Legend has a post-credit scene. And the post-credit scene teases that one iconic character that you've all been anticipating. You know who I'm talkin' about. Can't wait for the sequel in 2028." Link (article quoting the post; exact post URL could not be verified because X is blocked in this workspace): https://www.ndtvprofit.com/entertainment/did-ramayana-makers-finally-tease-sunny-deol-as-lord-hanuman-fans-think-so-12247741

A fan post as quoted by The Daily Jagran: "Called this from the very beginning. There couldn't be a better ending to Part 1 than Sunny Deol's Hanuman Ji entry with a thunderous JAI SHRI RAM!" Link (article quoting the post; exact post URL could not be verified because X is blocked in this workspace): https://www.thedailyjagran.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/ramayana-twitter-review-what-works-and-what-doesnt-in-ranbir-kapoor-mythological-epic-10335122

Sources and reporting

  1. India TV — October 28, 2026 · Verifies the October 28 report of a post credit scene teasing Sunny Deol as Hanuman and the July 18 Delhi launch quotes
  2. Free Press Journal — November 5, 2026 · Verifies the post credit scene shows Sunny Deol as Hanuman with his face reportedly not revealed, jumping and chanting Jai Shri Ram
  3. Bollywood Hungama — July 18, 2026 · Verifies Sunny Deol's full Delhi launch quotes about his limited work so far and Hanuman being playful, innocent and powerful