Fresh off the monumental success of 'Gadar: The Final Continues', Bollywood powerhouse Sunny Deol is reportedly being considered for another iconic role. The actor, currently preparing for 'Border 2', is said to be the top choice to play Lord Hanuman in a grand new cinematic franchise—the Ramayan Universe, or R-Verse.
Namit Malhotra's Vision for the R-Verse
Spearheaded by producer Namit Malhotra, the R-Verse aims to be a groundbreaking take on the ancient epic. In a recent interview, Malhotra outlined his ambitious vision, stating the project intends to break conventional rules in action sequences, musical scores, and stunt design. The goal is to craft a film that resonates deeply with traditional devotees of the Ramayan while simultaneously captivating a brand-new, younger audience.
As per reports, the film is described as a 'mythological-pop opera with thunderous action'. The narrative is expected to uniquely blend devotion with high-energy action, featuring dramatic musical numbers, aerial combat, flaming torch sequences, and a climactic 12-minute battle hymn that serves as the movie's emotional high point. This approach promises to present the legend of Lord Hanuman on an epic scale, distinct from typical mythological portrayals.
Why Sunny Deol is the Perfect Fit for Hanuman
Sources close to the development revealed that the concept for a standalone Hanuman film crystallized during the early work on the larger Ramayan project. Upon seeing the initial draft of Hanuman's segments, the creative team immediately felt the character deserved his own dedicated platform. The name that instantly came to mind for the role was Sunny Deol.
Insiders emphasized that Sunny Deol was considered the only actor suitable for the part, citing his formidable screen presence, physicality, and status as part of the film's original creative circle. His recent box office dominance has only solidified this belief, making him the frontrunner for what could become a defining role in his career.
Sunny Deol's Packed Slate of Upcoming Projects
While the R-Verse talks generate excitement, Sunny Deol's calendar is already overflowing with major projects. His most recent appearance was in the film 'Jaat'. Looking ahead, his lineup for 2026 is particularly busy.
The highly anticipated 'Border 2', directed by Anurag Singh and co-starring Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty, is a key project. Furthermore, Deol has multiple other films in the pipeline, including Rajkumar Santoshi's 'Lahore 1997', 'Gabru', the two-part 'Ramayan' epic, and a sequel to 'Jaat'.
If finalized, his role as Lord Hanuman in the R-Verse would add another massive franchise to his repertoire, potentially creating a new cinematic icon for Indian audiences worldwide.
