Exclusive! Yash's Ravana finds his Mandodari in Kajal Aggarwal

Actress Kajal Aggarwal has been cast as Mandodari in Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming adaptation of the Ramayana, Aggarwal will play the wife of Ravana, a character known for her wisdom, grace, and loyalty despite her husband's actions. In the magnum opus, she will appear opposite actor Yash, who portrays the role of Ravana.

Earlier there were reports suggesting that Sakshi Tanwar will be playing the part of Mandodari. Tanwar and Tiwari have worked together in the past in Dangal. However, a source suggests otherwise. "Kajal just did her look test last week, and will be playing the character of Mandodari opposite Yash. She has started shooting for the bit recently. The makers are currently shooting Ravana's Lanka bits," the source adds.

We reached out to Kajal and Sakshi, however, both the actresses didn't reply to our message. Kajal and Yash have never shared screen space. Ramayana will mark their first on-screen pairing. Kajal was last seen opposite Salman Khan in Sikandar.

Mandodari, the daughter of the demon king Mayasura and apsara Hema, is a revered figure in the Ramayana for her moral strength and devotion. Despite Ravana’s misdeeds, she consistently advises him to act righteously, urging him to return Sita to Lord Rama. Her character holds a significant place in the epic, known for her wisdom and virtue.

The project, produced by Namit Malhotra, is being planned as a two-part series, with the first part scheduled for release during Diwali 2026 and the second in Diwali 2027. The film will feature a wide range of actors, including Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. The visual effects for the series are being handled by the Oscar-winning VFX company DNEG, ensuring a high-quality cinematic presentation.