Ramayana, the upcoming mythological epic directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is making headlines for being the most expensive Indian film ever made. With a staggering budget of ₹4,000 crore, the two-part epic is backed by Namit Malhotra of Prime Focus Studios and promises to take Indian cinema to unprecedented global heights.
In his latest interview with the LA Times, Namit Malhotra revealed that Ramayana is not being designed exclusively for Indian audiences but as a film with worldwide appeal. “It’s a global film from the day we start. I’m not trying to make it to appease Indian people in India… It should speak to you like any other film,” he explained. He further stated that the film is intended to resonate with both believers and non-believers, aiming to break cultural and religious barriers. Drawing comparisons to Hollywood spectacles like Avatar and Gladiator, Namit stressed that the project would be considered a failure if Western audiences fail to connect with it.
Director Nitesh Tiwari added that emotions remain the foundation of the film. “Emotions are universal. If the audience connects emotionally, they will connect with the story, no matter where they’re from,” he said.
The star-studded cast includes Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, Amitabh Bachchan as Jatayu, and Ravi Dubey as Laxman. With music by Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman, Ramayana is slated for a grand Diwali 2026 release.