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Bollywood 'Ramayana' film pre‑release deals, record budget

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2026-08-16 10:00 UTC → 2026-08-21 03:18 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In early July, Dharma Productions secured a ₹250 crore distribution agreement for the two-part epic *Ramayana*, followed by a ₹75 crore music-rights sale to T-Series, bringing total pre-release earnings to approximately ₹325 crore. On 29 July, the studio revealed a combined budget exceeding 4,000 crore rupees (≈ $480 million), marking it as the most expensive film in Indian cinematic history. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Yash as Ravana, the project is overseen by visual-effects veteran Namit Malhotra of DNEG. A four-minute-nine-second trailer showcased extensive visual effects, highlighting the ambition to set new box-office records. The film is planned as a two-part release, with Part 1 slated for Diwali 2026 and Part 2 for Diwali 2027. On 16 August 2026, actor and co-producer Yash clarified the financial scale of the project during an appearance on the program *Aap Ki Adalat*. He explained that the reported ₹4,000 crore budget encompasses the production of both films, their worldwide release, and promotional costs. Yash noted that this model follows Hollywood standards, ~~where significant marketing investment is required to reach a global audience,~~ aiming to establish Indian cinema as a “global soft power.” The cast also includes Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. On 19 August 2026, further details emerged regarding the production scale, with reports indicating combined production and global marketing costs could reach approximately $418 million. The ~~first installment~~ adaptation, rooted in the ancient poem by Valmiki, features Sai Pallavi as Sita and a musical score by Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman. Sony Pictures is ~~scheduled for release~~ signed on ~~November 8.~~ as the international distributor to support the project’s goal of appealing to both Eastern and Western audiences.

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