Mumbai (PTI): After the success of mythological films like "Hanuman" and "Ganesha", another animation film based on Ramayana is all set to release next year.

"Ramayana-the epic" features actors like Juhi Chawla, Manoj Bajpai and Ashutosh Rana in the voices of Sita, Ram and Ravan.

Director Chetan Desai hopes to introduce Ram to the younger generation as an inspirational idol and the greatest superhero of India.

"He was born a prince and evolved into a hero. Ram is not depicted as a godly character," he said.

The duration of the film is 100 minutes and it has been made at a budget which is more than the normal Bollywood feature film. There will be about 100 characters in the film and it would be dubbed in multiple languages, he added.

The film will be released in Hindi first.

Actor Ashutosh Rana said it was a dream come true for him to give voice to the character of Ravan.

"Ravan for me is a anti-hero and not a villain. Both he and Ram were great, self-made men and devotees of Lord Shiva," he said.

Manoj Bajpai said it was a childhood dream for him to play Ram. "Even though it was not fulfilled. I got the chance to give voice to Ram's character," he said.

The film, made at a huge budget by Maya Entertainment Pvt Ltd, promises to bring global standards in animation to Indian screen, said Jai Natarajan, Executive Vice-President for Business Development.

There is a boom in the industry and India has immense potential to encash it. In 2006, the industry was worth Rs 10.5 billion and is estimated to grow at Rs 40 billion in the next three years, Natarajan added.