Audiences have only seen a bit of what’s coming with Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1 releasing on November 5, 2026, worldwide. The epic saga features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. Panchayat’s Faisal Malik plays Ravana’s brother Kumbhakarna, and the actor said that he used Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as a reference for his portrayal. Faisal also shared that he wanted to make space in audiences’ hearts with his performance as Kumbhakarna, as it was something he had never done before in his acting career.
Faisal Malik on his take as Kumbhakarna in Ramayana
Speaking to Variety India, Faisal shared that he began looking at Hollywood when beginning his references for his character. He said, “We have all seen the Hulk and how Mark Ruffalo becomes the big green guy. That is a reference for me when I started imagining how I would look.”
Faisal Malik In Ramayana: Part 1
In the film, audiences can expect to see the massive Kumbhakarna awake from his infamous six-month slumber to help his brother Ravana (Yash). Calling the experience a dream come true, Faisal stated, “The challenge is that I manage to make space in people’s hearts as Kumbhakarna like I did with Prahlad Chacha from Panchayat. That will be a huge validation.”
The actor revealed that the scope of the Ramayana is on par with that of and required a lot of preparation. He also worked with a team from the West, and director Nitesh Tiwari was completely involved in helping him shape his character. The biggest challenge was Kumbhakarna’s size and how he should be blended in with the rest of the world of the Ramayana. Faisal also teased that there’s lots more in store for Part 2, which is releasing in 2027.
(Image credit: Amazon Prime Video)
Faisal Malik’s upcoming projects
Faisal will be back to reprise his award-winning role, Prahlad Pandey, on Amazon Prime Video’s Panchayat Season 5. The rural dramedy, created by The Viral Fever (TVF) starring Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav and Neena Gupta, is expected to release in late 2026. He will also be a part of another Amazon Prime Video series with Teen Kauwe co-starring Siddhant Gupta, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Pavail Gulati and Bobby Deol. The Hindi web series follows an ex-secret agent, believed to be dead for years, who returns to find the traitor who framed him as a mole and evades his agency, who is trying to kill him.