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Ramayana: Namit Malhotra Talks About the 4000 Crore Global Vision of Indian Epic
Updated on: 16 July, 2025 12:40 PM IST |Amruta Karulkar
Ramayana
Get ready for a cinematic revolution as producer Namit Malhotra gears up to unveil "Ramayana," a two-part epic poised to redefine Indian storytelling on a global scale. This ambitious project, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and featuring a stellar ensemble including Yash, Amitabh Bachchan, Sai Pallavi, and Sunny Deol, is set to be the most expensive Indian film ever made.
"We’re funding it ourselves. We’re not taking anybody’s money," Malhotra asserted, highlighting his unwavering commitment. "People thought I was crazy when we started six or seven years ago, just after the pandemic. No Indian film had come close to this kind of budget."
Malhotra’s vision for "Ramayana" originated from a childhood fascination with Jurassic Park, a film that ignited his imagination about creating believable fictional worlds. Despite never becoming a director, he built a global post-production and visual effects powerhouse with Prime Focus, contributing to multiple Oscar-winning projects. Yet, a persistent frustration remained: the lack of global respect for Indian cinema. "All the films they saw us as were victims and we were poor and always less fortunate and treated poorly by the world. And I was like, no, that`s not who we are. That`s not the country I come from," he stated.
This powerful disconnect became the driving force behind Ramayana. Malhotra aims to present India’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage to the world through what he calls "the greatest epic of all time."
Also Read: Sunny Deol On Playing Hanuman In Ramayana: "Honored To Be A Part Of The Story"
If Malhotra’s ambitious vision comes to fruition, Ramayana could not only shatter box office records but also fundamentally redefine how Indian mythology and cinema are perceived globally. The film also features an extraordinary musical collaboration between A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer, with Zimmer making his much-anticipated Bollywood debut.
An Unprecedented Budget and Personal Mission
Ramayana is grabbing international attention for its astonishing budget: an estimated $500 million (approximately Rs 4000 crore). This monumental figure rivals some of the biggest Hollywood tentpole movies. In a recent conversation with Prakhar Gupta, Namit Malhotra, CEO of Prime Focus and the mastermind behind visual effects for blockbusters like Inception and Dune, revealed the intensely personal nature of this venture."We’re funding it ourselves. We’re not taking anybody’s money," Malhotra asserted, highlighting his unwavering commitment. "People thought I was crazy when we started six or seven years ago, just after the pandemic. No Indian film had come close to this kind of budget."
Malhotra’s vision for "Ramayana" originated from a childhood fascination with Jurassic Park, a film that ignited his imagination about creating believable fictional worlds. Despite never becoming a director, he built a global post-production and visual effects powerhouse with Prime Focus, contributing to multiple Oscar-winning projects. Yet, a persistent frustration remained: the lack of global respect for Indian cinema. "All the films they saw us as were victims and we were poor and always less fortunate and treated poorly by the world. And I was like, no, that`s not who we are. That`s not the country I come from," he stated.
This powerful disconnect became the driving force behind Ramayana. Malhotra aims to present India’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage to the world through what he calls "the greatest epic of all time."
Also Read: Sunny Deol On Playing Hanuman In Ramayana: "Honored To Be A Part Of The Story"
Diwali 2026: A New Chapter Begins
With Ramayana Part 1 slated for a Diwali 2026 release, anticipation is incredibly high. Directed by the acclaimed Nitesh Tiwari (Dangal, Chhichhore), the film promises a blend of cutting-edge VFX, profound emotional storytelling, and unparalleled scale.If Malhotra’s ambitious vision comes to fruition, Ramayana could not only shatter box office records but also fundamentally redefine how Indian mythology and cinema are perceived globally. The film also features an extraordinary musical collaboration between A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer, with Zimmer making his much-anticipated Bollywood debut.
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