LONDON, November 9, 2026 — Producer Namit Malhotra and director Nitesh Tiwari have launched a $500 million cinematic adaptation of the Ramayana, the ancient Hindu epic, with the first of two parts released last week.
A Global Gamble
Malhotra, CEO of DNEG and founder of Prime Focus Studios, is financing the project himself, according to CNN. “It’s all my money,” he said. “I have all the risk… I’m going all in.” The producer remains confident, stating, “There is no version of this where people don’t like [the movies] and it does not drive economic upside.”
The Ramayana, attributed to Hindu sage Valmiki, is a more than 2,000-year-old epic poem. This adaptation, titled Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, is the most expensive Indian film production ever, with an average of $250 million per film, comparable to Marvel movies.
Bringing the Epic to Life
Director Nitesh Tiwari, known for Dangal, leads the project, which features an ensemble cast including Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Yash as Ravana, and Sai Pallavi as Sita. The film combines India’s biggest stars with Hollywood visual effects expertise and international composers like Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman.
The first part, based on the first three kāṇḍa of the Ramayana, chronicles Prince Rama’s life up to his 14-year exile. Sony Pictures distributed the film across approximately 59,000 screens worldwide, the widest release for an Indian film in America, according to The Statesman.
Box Office Performance
The film surpassed ₹500 crore globally in its first weekend, overtaking Adipurush’s lifetime haul in just four days, reports Hindustan Times. Despite a lukewarm overseas opening, word of mouth boosted its performance, particularly in India. However, its international earnings remain a challenge, with $23.7 million in the first four days.
The second part is scheduled for release on Diwali 2028, with expectations high for its global impact.
Sources
- The $500 million gamble to make India’s ‘Ramayana’ a global phenomenon | CNN
- The $500 million gamble to make India’s ‘Ramayana’ a global phenomenon | CNN
- The $500 million gamble to make India’s ‘Ramayana’ a global phenomenon – Local News 8
- Beyond spectacle – The Statesman
- Ramayana worldwide box office collection day 4: Ranbir Kapoor, Yash film storms past ₹500 crore on opening weekend; beats Adipurush's lifetime haul
Photo: DNEG (CC BY-SA 4.0)
