Ramayana Set to Become India's Most Expensive Film Ever with Rs 4,000 Crore Budget

Nitesh Tiwari's two-part epic starring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash breaks all previous records with a massive $500 million production cost.

In a stunning revelation, it has been confirmed by producer Namit Malhotra that his epic Realistic motion picture in the history of the Indian cinema Ramayana is not going to be produced for 4,000 crores, which already makes it a record breaker in terms of being by far the most expensive Indian film to be ever created.

Produced at a cost of about $500 million, the two-part epic, which Nitesh Tiwari helms, is tied to one of the highest tentpole productions by Hollywood. This is a huge leap after previous estimations showed that the budget stood at Rs 1,600 crore.

"We're funding it ourselves. We're not taking anybody's money," Malhotra, CEO of Prime Focus, stated during a recent podcast interview. "No Indian film, by a long distance, comes close to it. We're making the largest film in the world for the greatest story, the greatest epic that the world should see."

The film features an ensemble cast led by Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, with Yash portraying Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. The stellar lineup also includes Amitabh Bachchan, Vikrant Massey, Ravi Dubey, and Lara Dutta in pivotal roles.

To put this budget in perspective, Ramayana's production cost is eight times that of recent blockbusters like "RRR" (Rs 500 crore) and "Kalki 2898 AD" (Rs 600 crore). Even SS Rajamouli's upcoming film with Mahesh Babu, reportedly budgeted at Rs 1,000 crore, pales in comparison.

The film is being positioned as a VFX-heavy spectacle designed for IMAX release, with Prime Focus handling the technical aspects. One of the most innovative features will be AI dubbing technology, allowing seamless viewing in multiple regional languages - a first in Indian cinema.

Malhotra's vision for the project stems from a childhood fascination with "Jurassic Park" and a desire to showcase India's cultural heritage on a global scale. "All the films they saw us as victims, and we were poor," he explained. "That's not who we are. That's not the country I come from."

The producer, whose company has worked on Hollywood blockbusters like "Inception," "Interstellar," and "Dune," views this as a personal mission to redefine how Indian mythology is presented to international audiences.

The project began taking shape six to seven years ago, with Malhotra admitting that people initially thought he was "crazy" for attempting such an ambitious undertaking. However, he remains confident about the financial viability, stating that the budget is still "cheaper than some of the biggest Hollywood films."

Recently, the makers unveiled a motion poster featuring animated glimpses of Ranbir Kapoor and Yash's characters, accompanied by an original score from Oscar-winning composers Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman. The poster has generated significant buzz among fans and industry insiders alike.

"Ramayana Part 1" is scheduled for release during Diwali 2026, with the second instalment following in Diwali 2027. If successful, the film could not only set new box office records but also establish a new benchmark for Indian cinema's global ambitions.

The project represents a bold gamble on Indian storytelling's universal appeal, with Malhotra betting that audiences worldwide are ready to embrace India's greatest epic in its most spectacular cinematic form yet.