Namit Malhotra Confirms Brahmastra 2 After Ramayana at CinemaCon 2026: Ranbir Kapoor’s Astraverse Returns Soon
Namit Malhotra has officially confirmed that Brahmastra 2 will roll once he wraps Ramayana, ending months of speculation around Ayan Mukerji’s Astraverse sequel. Speaking at CinemaCon 2026 while promoting his magnum opus Ramayana alongside Yash, the producer addressed the future of the franchise head-on. For Ranbir Kapoor fans who have been waiting for a concrete update since Brahmastra Part One: Shiva released in 2022, this is the first clear timeline from the top. Malhotra stated that his full energy will shift to the Astraverse next, with Brahmastra 2 focusing on the love story of Dev and Amrita the parents of Ranbir’s Shiva.
The confirmation came during a packed session for Ramayana at CinemaCon 2026, where Namit Malhotra and Yash showcased footage and outlined the global rollout plans for their two-part epic. When asked about other banners under Prime Focus and DNEG, Malhotra brought up Brahmastra 2 without hesitation. He made it clear that Ramayana is the immediate priority, given its scale and VFX-heavy post-production, but the moment that’s delivered, Ayan Mukerji’s sequel goes on floors. The producer’s direct involvement signals that the Astraverse is being treated as a long-term IP, not a one-off experiment. His words “once he finishes work on Ramayana, he will start Brahmastra 2” give the project a real runway for the first time since Part One’s release.
Brahmastra 2 will reportedly trace the origin story of Dev and Amrita, a track teased in the first film’s post-credit sequence. That chapter is crucial to the Astraverse mythology, setting up the rise of Dev as the primary antagonist and exploring Amrita’s arc with the Jalastra. Casting speculation has run wild for years, with names like Deepika Padukone, Hrithik Roshan, and Ranveer Singh linked to Dev at various points. With Malhotra now publicly committing to the film post-Ramayana, expect casting and pre-production to accelerate in late 2026. For Ayan Mukerji, this marks a return to his homegrown universe after directing War 2 for YRF Spy Universe, and for Ranbir Kapoor, it means continuing Shiva’s journey once the origin story lays the groundwork.
For the trade and fans, this update is significant because Brahmastra Part One closed near ₹430 Cr worldwide despite mixed reviews, proving there’s audience equity in the Astraverse. The four-year gap between films had raised doubts about momentum, but Malhotra’s CinemaCon statement reframes it as a deliberate pipeline: finish Ramayana 2026–2027, move to Brahmastra 2 immediately after. That positions the sequel for a likely 2028–2029 release, giving VFX and world-building enough time. With Prime Focus backing both Ramayana and Brahmastra 2, the visual scale should match global standards. Malhotra saying he will “put his energy into the Astraverse next” is the clearest greenlight yet, and it’s welcome news for everyone tracking India’s first homegrown cinematic universe.
