Mumbai: Ramayana, a two-part mythological epic starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, is emerging as a test of whether Indian film IP can be turned into a global entertainment business beyond the diaspora.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, the 4,000-crore project is being mounted at a scale more commonly associated with Hollywood event films. Sony Pictures is handling worldwide distribution, giving the film access to a global distribution network from the outset.

The film is targeting audiences across North America, Europe, Australia, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Malhotra believes it could eventually reach more than 50,000 screens worldwide, in addition to around 9,000 screens in India.

But the bigger commercial bet is whether an Indian story can be sold to audiences who have no prior cultural connection to the epic, rather than primarily to the Indian diaspora.

Indian films have crossed borders before. Dangal, Baahubali, RRR, Pathaan and Kalki 2898 AD have found audiences outside India, with some performing strongly at the global box office. Ramayana, however, is being positioned differently: the non-diaspora audience is intended to be part of its core market rather than an extension of the overseas Indian audience.

The strategy comes as India’s government is encouraging creators to build audiences beyond the domestic market. At the WAVES summit last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indian content creators to embrace the vision of “Create in India, Create for the World”, describing India’s storytelling tradition as a cultural asset built over thousands of years.

For Ramayana, that ambition creates a challenge beyond distribution: audience education. The film is being developed for viewers who may have little familiarity with the characters, mythology and cultural context of the epic.

Malhotra sees the project as fundamentally different from simply taking an Indian film overseas. “There has never been a story from India for the world,” he said. “We are genuinely approaching it as an Indian film, made by Indian people, acted by Indian actors, but being presented on a global stage.”

The team spent 18 months to two years travelling, meeting studios and explaining the project before Sony came on board, Malhotra said. “When something has not happened for 100 years, the first question people ask is why me? why now? why this project?” he said.

The film is being developed in multiple Indian languages, while an English version is also being worked on. Malhotra said the objective is to give international audiences an experience that feels as seamless as watching films from their own markets.

The release strategy reflects that ambition. Malhotra believes Ramayana could eventually reach more than 50,000 screens worldwide, compared with roughly 8,000-12,000 screens for some of the largest previous Indian releases. He cautioned, however, against directly comparing the film with established global franchises such as Avatar, Spider-Man or Avengers.

The marketing spend could also be on an unprecedented scale. Malhotra said he could not say whether it would be 200 crore or 1,000 crore, but that the project was operating in the “orbit of money” required to market a film worldwide in the manner Hollywood markets its biggest event releases.

“We are one amongst 30 films of the year of the world that will get this kind of distribution,” he said.

Industry executives see the project as part of a broader expansion in the ambitions of Indian cinema.

PVR INOX managing director Ajay Bijli said the film represents an opportunity to take a story with universal appeal to audiences around the world. “If there is a story that can resonate with global audiences, then why not?” Bijli said. “Ramayana is a universal story, and Namit was very keen that the whole world should know about this powerful Indian mythological story.”

Former Zee Studios CEO and film producer Shariq Patel said an Indian distributor would not have been able to secure the same breadth of global distribution.

“It’s a bold, audacious and important move. Reaching a global audience beyond the diaspora required a partnership like this,” Patel said. He said Prime Focus’s decades-long relationships with US studios and distributors, built through its VFX business, were significant in making such a partnership possible.

Nitin Menon, managing partner at NV Capital, sees the project as part of a broader push to turn Indian mythology into globally recognisable intellectual property.

“Ramayana and Mahabharata are our Marvel and DC,” he said, describing the ambition as an expression of India’s growing confidence in its storytelling and soft power.

The two-part structure is also central to the commercial strategy. Malhotra said the first film is intended to establish the characters and world, creating a foundation for the second instalment.

“Everybody plays that one and two game because they all know that if one gets established, then the two becomes a multi-bagger,” he said.

For India’s film industry, which produces around 1,800-2,000 films a year across Bollywood and multiple regional industries, the opportunity extends beyond a single blockbuster.

India has historically had little economic incentive to build global audiences because its large domestic market has been sufficient to sustain a vast film ecosystem. Its films have nevertheless begun finding audiences well beyond the diaspora, creating a potential path for Indian intellectual property to become a larger export.

The test for Ramayana, therefore, is not whether an Indian film can travel overseas. Dangal, Baahubali and RRR have already shown that it can. The bigger question is whether Indian IP can be packaged, distributed and marketed as a global event from day one, with audiences beyond the diaspora forming part of its core market.

Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part 1 found itself at the centre of two different conversations on July 24. While the epic’s first major showcase at San Diego Comic-Con was met with applause from the international audience, its India trailer launch was called off amid the ongoing student protests.

Minutes before the Comic-Con panel began with actors Ranbir Kapoor and Yash in attendance, producer Namit Malhotra announced that the trailer would no longer be released globally as scheduled. 

A source said, “The makers chose to withhold the online launch, saying it would arrive at a later date. The protests across India had prompted the makers to do a rethink.”

The presentation itself went ahead as scheduled, with the team unveiling exclusive footage of the epic to an enthusiastic response from the nearly 4800 attendees.

“This marked only the second time an Indian film has received such a prominent showcase at San Diego Comic-Con after Kalki 2898 AD,” added the source.

While rumours over the past few days suggested that Ramayana: Part 1 might arrive ahead of schedule, the makers reaffirmed at the event that it will be a Diwali 2026 release.

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A dance performance preceding the ‘Ramayana: Part 1’ panel was widely criticized for being a mish-mash of multiple dance forms

Before the trailer of Ramayana: Part 1 drops online on July 24, portions from the preview have already made their way on social media. On July 18, the makers unveiled the trailer of the Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash-starrer to select guests at the Pratham Sankalp event in New Delhi.

Within hours of the screening, a one-minute-28-second excerpt from the trailer was circulating across social media platforms, leading the makers to launch an aggressive takedown.

Sources indicate that producer Namit Malhotra and director Nitesh Tiwari have activated their anti-piracy partners and legal teams to remove unauthorized uploads and issue copyright notices.

“The takedown process has been underway since Saturday night. It was pulled down from Reddit by the morning of July 19, but X remains more challenging,” said a source.

It is being said that the leaked footage was recorded during the Pratham Sankalp screening. The source added, “The leak appears to have originated from an attendee’s phone recording. It shows Rama’s entry sequence as well the scene where Rama agrees to honour his father’s promise to Kaikeyi.”

On July 2, social media was abuzz as an 11-second video featuring Ranbir Kapoor started doing the rounds, with many claiming that it was leaked footage from the asset of Ramayana: Part 1 that was showcased at CinemaCon 2026. Soon, the makers of the Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash-starrer sprang into action, deploying its anti-piracy partners to remove the content through takedown notices.

According to sources, a part of the footage being circulated widely on X, Reddit, and other platforms was not authentic.

A source revealed, “Our team is actively monitoring the internet and getting the material removed. Some elements of the 11-second video are AI-generated, while some glimpses of the film have been morphed and used. In any case, the team doesn’t want any look to be out yet. Glimpses, even the AI-generated ones, take away from the film’s vision.”

Director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra are said to be treating both piracy and AI-generated misinformation with equal seriousness. “The trailer will be launched later this month on an international platform. It’s on us to ensure nothing goes out before the launch,” added the source.

Remember Paresh Rawal screaming ‘Teja main hoon, mark idhar hai’ in Andaz Apna Apna (1994)? Saket Patel, one of the junior artistes in Ramayana: Part 1, went through something similar, telling the internet, “Yeh character main hoon, turban idhar hai.”

In a sequence from Ramayana’s teaser that shows Ranbir Kapoor flanked by large crowds, eagle-eyed fans spotted that a character’s turban changed colour from blue to purple as the shot transitioned from wide to close-up. That was enough for the internet to declare that the crowd was AI-generated.

“There is no need for AI to create a crowd,” Patel told mid-day over a call. He also viewed the incident as an opportunity to own the narrative. “When the shot was in the teaser, I was happy. But when everybody started talking about the colour change in the turban, I thought, ‘Let me just go out and tell people that I exist,’” he said.

Patel recalled that filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari shot the sequence two years ago at Film City. “I got to know that the makers were looking for people for a crowd sequence and went in as an extra,” he said, adding that the scene featured around 500 artistes.

“The shoot went on for a half a day. Ranbir remained in character. So, he was not interacting with anybody other than the director and the team. It was a large set. It’s not a green screen, as people are claiming it is.”

Saket Patel (encircled) in the contentious scene. Pics/YouTube

When filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali sets his mind on something, he refuses to settle for anything less than perfection — and perfection takes time. Since his ambitious period saga Love & War was announced in January 2024, the film has stayed in the news — not just for its star-studded cast of Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal, but also for its persistent delays.

Originally slated for a March release this year, the film remains incomplete. Bhansali recently shared that only 10 per cent of the shoot is pending. However, scheduling conflicts loom at large. “Ranbir has Ramayana: Part Two, and Vicky has Mahavatar in the line-up. Nitesh Tiwari wants to wrap up the second part to begin post-production, because July onwards time will be dedicated to the promotions of Ramayana: Part One,” says a source.

Kaushal, who was expected to bulk up for Mahavatar, but was busy with Love & War shoots all through 2025, has now finally set that plan in motion. As a result, Love & War will only resume filming in the second half of 2026, adds the source.

What remains? The climax. Despite a recent health scare, Bhansali is determined to meet the January 2027 deadline. “He has been working non-stop for the last two years. The team is reworking timelines. Post-production is progressing alongside to save time. Sanjay is certain that the film will release on schedule and exactly how he envisioned it,” another insider reveals.

Filmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari has often been associated with sensitive, women-led narratives, but she is clear that she does not see herself confined to that space. “I’m eager to move beyond the label of a women-oriented filmmaker,” she says, reflecting on how easily the industry and audiences tend to categorise storytellers.

“We often pigeonhole ourselves into categories. Bareilly Ki Barfi was a romcom. It had two strong male characters — so it’s really about the narrative you choose and how others perceive it,” she explains.

For Ashwiny, the tag has more to do with perception than intention. She says, “People often say I haven’t capitalized on my previous films or spoken much about them. But I have made a conscious effort not to limit myself to women-led films. I don’t think breaking that image is difficult.”

Even as she continues to build her own slate of films, Ashwiny harbours the ambition of directing a large-scale, pan-India spectacle, the kind of cinematic event that defines a season. For now, she is closely observing that world through husband and filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari, who is immersed in mounting an ambitious project. He’s directing Ramayana, a highly anticipated Indian mythological action epic scheduled for a 2026 release, featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana.

She added, “He’s been working on it for five years now. Producer Namit Malhotra’s vision deeply influences the director. With my background in art, costume and styling, I contribute ideas, but ultimately, it’s his vision. I’m extremely proud because it takes immense patience, which I’m not sure I have.”

Going big appears to be the motto of the makers of Ramayana: Part One, be it in terms of shaping the biggest spectacle in Indian cinema or organising a grand first-look event. The buzz in the industry is that filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra have started sending out invites for a Ram Navami event that they will host on March 27 at Gateway Of India in Mumbai. The event will mark the reveal of the principal characters in the Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, and Sai Pallavi-starrer.

Sources indicate that several senior leaders from the state and central government are on the guest list. It also includes stars from the world of entertainment and sports.

An insider told mid-day, “Major Bollywood names are expected to attend. Ranbir, who plays Lord Ram, has personally invited family and close associates to the ceremony. This will be the first time that the epic’s character universe will be presented.”

While Yash and Pallavi portray Ravana and Sita respectively, Sunny Deol essays the part of Hanuman and Ravi Dubey, of Lakshman.

mid-day reached out to Malhotra, who didn’t respond till press time.

The new lease of life post ‘Gadar 2’ (2023) he got has Sunny Deol looking at his career differently. He is now picking projects that surprise him and his loyal audience. While the actor is set to play Hanuman in Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’, sources now inform that Namit Malhotra (producer and CEO Double Negative) is fast-tracking a Hanuman-centric musical film, with Deol as the top choice to headline it.

The project, described internally as a “mythological-pop opera with thunderous action”, is rumoured to be the second major entry in the Ramayan Universe (R-Verse). “The moment they saw the initial writing of Hanuman’s sequences in ‘Ramayana’, the team knew he needed his own stage. And Sunny paaji’s name kept coming up because who else could play it better than him, as he is also part of the original,” shares a source close to the development.

Insiders inform that the makers plan to blend legend, music, high-octane set pieces, aerial combat, flaming-torch choreography, and a 12-minute song described as a battle hymn. They add that the makers plan to have “Avengers-styled interconnected storylines with recurring characters and crossovers. Hanuman is their Hulk — unstoppable, beloved, and built for spectacle.”

If things fall into place, the musical may roll into production by late next year.

- ‘Border 2’ — set to come on January 2026

- ‘Gabru’ — scheduled for March 13, 2026

- ‘Ramayana – Part I & Part II’ — Sunny is rumoured to play Hanuman

- ‘Lahore, 1947’ — The period drama directed by Rajkumar Santoshi

- ‘Soorya’ — The Hindi remake of ‘Joseph’ (2018)

- ‘Baap’ — Nostalgic action ensemble film with veteran stars

- ‘Jaat 2’ — Sequel to ‘Jaat’

- ‘Coal King’ — Film in  discussion with director Anil Sharma

Actor Ranbir Kapoor is currently working on two major projects — Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War.

While Ramayana was initially planned as a two-part release targeting Diwali 2026 and 2027, a new report suggests that the second instalment may no longer meet its 2027 timeline.

According to a report in Deccan Chronicle, Ranbir had initially agreed to complete both parts of Ramayana before moving to Bhansali’s film. However, the shoot is reportedly progressing slower than expected.

A source quoted in the report added: “Ranbir had planned to complete the two parts of Ramayana, then finish Bhansali’s Love & War. But the film is showing no sign of getting done. He has no choice but to give Bhansali all the dates that were originally meant for Ramayana Part 2. This means Part 2 may not reach theatres as planned.”

Ranbir plays Ram, with Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. Sunny Deol and Ravie Dubey appear as Hanuman and Lakshman, while Kajal Aggarwal and Rakul Preet Singh play Mandodari and Surpanakha. The ensemble also includes Arun Govil, Kunal Kapoor, Adinath Kothare, Sheeba Chaddha and Indira Krishnan.

While the edit of Part 1 is reportedly complete, Part 2’s schedule now depends on Ranbir wrapping Bhansali’s Love & War, starring Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal.

Ever since filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari announced his mega-budget project Ramayana, it has generated buzz for its stellar cast and stunning VFX.

HT City has learnt that actor Amit Sial has joined the cast as Sugriv, the monkey king who aided Lord Rama in rescuing Sita from the demon king Ravana.

A source close to the development tells us, “Amit has shot a few portions of the film, and he will be seen playing a Hindu epic mythological character, Sugriv. The actor and the director will be working on his appearance to have authenticity to his narrative.”

The source adds, “Amit is nearly at the completion of his part in the first edition of the film.” The 50-year-old actor was unavailable when we reached out to him for a confirmation.

Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravan, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. The cast also includes actors Ravi Dubey, Lara Dutta, Vikrant Massey, and Arun Govil.

Addinath M Kothare knows that being part of the magnum opus, Ramayana, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. What he holds dearer is the fact that the two-part drama has given him the chance to work with filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari. The actor, who plays Bharat to Ranbir Kapoor’s Lord Rama in the movie that also stars Sai Pallavi and Yash, says it was inspiring to see Tiwari lead the epic that’s undeniably one of the biggest Indian films of recent times.

“The way he is so patient and in control of what he wants is awe-inspiring. He is absolutely clear about his vision. That makes it easy for him to communicate his needs to the team,” reflects Kothare. 

Being a director, Kothare knows the pressure that accompanies filmmaking. It makes him appreciate Tiwari’s calm approach all the more. “I never saw the pressure of a big film getting to him. When the captain of the ship is so experienced, grounded, and humble, it’s a delight for any artiste to be on that side,” shares Kothare, who helmed the Marathi film, Paani (2024).

Equally delightful was sharing screen space with Kapoor. In his maiden collaboration with the superstar, Kothare has walked away impressed. “He is such a secure, sincere, and focused actor. It was inspiring to see him work. He was my senior in school, but I didn’t get to meet him at the time. Now it’s such a coincidence that I got to work with him! I mentioned this to him during our shoot.”

After working with Nitesh Tiwari, Addinath Kothare is shooting with the director and Tiwari’s wife Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari for her yet-untitled next, led by Jyotika and Sonakshi Sinha. In them, he has found his favourite real-life couple. “Within a year, I’ve had the privilege of working with both of them. I think they are the most talented couple I’ve ever met,” he says.

Kajal Aggarwal, Anil Kapoor, Adinath Kothare, Vikrant Massey, Vivek Oberoi, Mohit Raina feature in the film. Pics/AFP, Instagram 

The curtain has officially risen on Ramayana. On July 3, Nitesh Tiwari unveiled the teaser of the two-part magnum opus, and it confirmed that the Indian audience’s optimism was well-placed. The three-minute teaser may have offered shielded glimpses of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Yash as Ravana, but it signalled that the filmmaker was bringing a world grand in vision, rich in imagery, and most importantly, honest in its retelling of the epic.

While it’s known that Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, and Ravie Dubey play Sita, Hanuman, and Lakshman respectively, mid-day has learnt that Tiwari has put together a cast of over 25 actors across India for his ambitious project. It is heard that megastar Amitabh Bachchan will voice the character of Jatayu, the divine vulture that not only unsuccessfully fought Ravana, but also aided Lord Rama and Lakshman before breathing its last. While Kunal Kapoor will play Lord Indra, Indira Krishnan portrays Ram’s mother Kaushalya.

A source reveals, “Nitesh has carefully curated the cast, based on visual resemblance, the actors’ ability to transform into their respective characters, and the gravitas they bring. The cast includes Anil Kapoor, Kajal Aggarwal, Vikrant Massey, Vivek Oberoi, Mohit Raina, and Adinath Kothare. Actors across mediums have been chosen as the makers wanted to get whoever was best for the role.”

Two of Ranbir Kapoor’s ambitious projects, Ramayana, and Love & War, are in production simultaneously. While the superstar is busy filming Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s romantic drama, his absence hasn’t impacted Nitesh Tiwari’s mythological drama. With the actor having completed most of his portions late last year, we’ve heard that Tiwari is now shooting certain sequences with Kapoor’s body double.

A production insider tells us, “Ranbir has completed almost all his crucial scenes for the first instalment of Ramayana; only patchwork is remaining, which can be managed without him. Since his dates were assigned to Love & War, Ramayana’s production team planned the shoot in such a way that there are no delays. Right now, a few minor sequences are being filmed with a body double, after which it will be a wrap on the first edition.”

Tiwari has envisioned Ramayana, which also stars Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana and Sunny Deol as Hanuman, as a two-part offering. If things go as planned, the second part will roll in May. The source adds, “It is a VFX-heavy film, and a lot of work is being done in post-production. Nitesh will dedicate the next few months to that. The second instalment is likely to roll in the summer, with Ranbir expected to join by June.”

Touted as one of the biggest films of Indian cinema, Ramayana’s first part is slated to release in Diwali 2026, and the second in Diwali 2027. Mid-day reached out to producer Namit  Malhotra, who didn’t respond till press time.

Straddling a modern-day actioner and a mythological drama comes easy to Ravi Udyawar. While he is gearing up for his directorial venture Yudhra’s release, he is equally excited about Ramayana, on which he serves as the visual artist. Before Nitesh Tiwari’s magnum opus, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita, went on floors in April, Udyawar spent years creating and designing the on-screen world.

“I have designed the film. I am an artist, and the makers wanted someone who could design it. So, I created the whole world and characters of Ramayana. But I can’t divulge more details. I would love to make more of such films because I love creating that world,” he says. Envisioned as a trilogy, the mythological drama also stars Yash as Ravana and Sunny Deol as Hanuman.

Udyawar, who previously helmed Sridevi-starrer Mom (2017), believes the Indian audience deserves to see the country’s rich mythological stories play out on screen.

“People of the country are waiting for us to tell our stories. I am a geek of mythologies. All my films will have an undertone of that. The kids should be watching our fables and Panchatantra. The land that we come from has many more stories to offer.”

The change of production hands on Nitesh Tiwari’s directorial venture, based on the Ramayan, hasn’t particularly cleared obstacles in the filmmaking process. Following previous co-producer Madhu Mantena’s departure, it was supposed that the film would find a new direction; however, Mantena has reportedly asked for a pause in the filming process until he is appropriately compensated.

A source reveals that the shoot of Tiwari’s mythological offering has stalled after the copyright infringement case. “The shooting continued for a few days after the notice, but has been on hold since last week. The matter has to be resolved legally, and filming will only resume when a consensus on the matter is reached,” says the source associated with the film, which, apart from Kapoor as Lord Ram, also stars Sunny Deol, Yash, and Sai Pallavi.

While work on the offering isn’t currently underway, sources from the production house assert that the film has not been canned. Shooting, they say, is likely to commence in three weeks. “There are date-related issues that need to be addressed since Ranbir is expected to start [Sanjay Leela] Bhansali’s project later this year, and Sunny will move on to filming Border 2. Shooting will be scheduled in such a way that their absence doesn’t hamper the project. It will be shot in two parts, with the second edition eyeing a release date six months after the first part hits screens.”

mid-day reached out to Tiwari, who did not respond till press time.

Early this month, the Nitesh Tiwari-directed Ramayan ran into legal trouble owing to its intellectual property rights. The production house, Allu Mantena Media Ventures LLP, which originally owned the rights to the film, has been in negotiation with Prime Focus Technologies Limited since April for the transfer of ownership. However, the talks failed due to an incomplete payment to formalize the agreement.

While everyone assumed that the disagreement would stall the Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi-starrer, sources claim that the production team and director remain undeterred in their commitment to bringing the epic tale to life on the big screen.

A source from the set informs that there is no delay in work, saying, “It has been business as usual for [everyone on set]. We have been working relentlessly every day. There is no scope for stalling as bulk dates have been taken from the cast and crew.”

Amidst the uncertainty surrounding the project’s financing and production logistics, the spirit of collaboration prevails on set. “South actors Sai and Yash are committed until May-end. We will be filming a crucial sequence in Film City next week, and most of the cast will be present for the shoot,” added the source.