Dil Raju blunders Ranbir Kapoor’s name; laughs off mix‑up at Ramayana launch

In a star‑studded pre‑release gathering in Hyderabad, the upcoming epic “Ramayana” drew a high‑profile crowd that included Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Rakul Preet Singh, Ravie Dubey, producer Namit Malhotra, director Nitesh Tiwari and Andhra‑Telangana distributor Dil Raju. The event followed a successful meeting in Bengaluru a few days earlier and was a showcase for the film’s international ambitions.

Dil Raju, whose Sri Venkateswara Creations will handle the film’s release in the Andhra‑Telangana market, opened the ceremony by praising the cast and the director’s vision. However, midway through his remarks he mistakenly referred to Ranbir Kapoor as “Ranveer Singh.” The mix‑up was immediately noticed, and Dil Raju laughed, corrected himself and apologized, saying, “Sorry, Ranbir Kapoor garu!” He added that he had distributed two of Kapoor’s films in the region—“Brahmastra” (2022) and “Animal” (2023)—and hoped “Ramayana” would be a third‑film hat trick of success.

While the distributor’s blunder made headlines, the event also highlighted the film’s global outreach. The makers announced that the grand premiere will take place at the David Geffen Theatre of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on October 27. “Ramayana” is slated to hit cinemas worldwide on November 5.

Yash, who delivered the closing speech, praised producer Namit Malhotra for taking a gamble by investing his reputation and resources to launch the film on a worldwide platform. He urged audiences to view the movie with an open mind, noting that any criticism of the VFX should not detract from the film’s overall intent. “If we lose people like him now, we’ll go back many years,” Yash said, emphasizing Malhotra’s commitment to improvement.

The event underscored the film’s ambition to blend mythological storytelling with contemporary cinema, while also showcasing the collaborative efforts of a diverse cast and crew. Despite the brief on‑stage slip, the gathering set a positive tone for the film’s release and its anticipated global reception.