India’s cinematic landscape is on the verge of a revolutionary moment as Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming magnum opus ‘Ramayana’ is reported to be the most expensive Indian film ever made — with a budget crossing ₹4000 crore (approximately $500 million).
Ramayana to Outpace Hollywood Giants in Scale and Budget
For years, James Cameron’s Titanic and Marvel’s Avengers held the crown for the most expensive films globally, with budgets between $200 to $450 million. But this may soon change, as Namit Malhotra, the film’s producer, revealed on a podcast that the total cost of both parts of Ramayana would exceed ₹4000 crore — putting it in the same league as Infinity War + Endgame and The Hobbit Trilogy.
> “We are making the world’s biggest story into the world’s biggest film,” said Malhotra.
How the Ramayana Budget Compares to Other Films
Film Budget (Approx.)
Ramayana (2 Parts) ₹4000+ crore / $500M
Kalki 2898 AD ₹600 crore / $70M
Adipurush ₹550 crore
RRR ₹500 crore
Baahubali (2 parts combined) ₹430 crore
Avatar (2009) $237 million
Avengers: Endgame $356 million
Even compared to Hollywood’s iconic trilogies, Ramayana stands tall. Only the Avengers: Infinity War + Endgame combo (over $700M) and The Hobbit Trilogy ($623M) outpace it.
Vision Behind the Monumental Project
The film will be directed by Nitesh Tiwari, best known for Dangal. Malhotra explained:
> “When we started 6-7 years ago, everyone thought I was crazy. But now, we’re turning the impossible into reality. Compared to Hollywood, we are still making this at a relatively efficient budget.”
He emphasized that Ramayana is not just an Indian epic but a global story that deserves a cinematic treatment on a world stage.
Cast, Release Date, and Music Team
The star-studded cast for Ramayana includes:
Ranbir Kapoor as Ram
Yash (of KGF fame) as Ravan
Sai Pallavi as Sita
Sunny Deol as Hanuman
Ravi Dubey as Lakshman
The music is another highlight. The legendary A.R. Rahman will collaborate with Hans Zimmer, marking Zimmer’s Bollywood debut — a rare fusion of two musical giants.
Release Plan
Part 1 is scheduled for release during Diwali 2026
Part 2 will follow in 2027
A Game-Changer for Indian Cinema
If delivered as promised, Ramayana could set a new global benchmark for Indian filmmaking, both in budget and cinematic impact. With unmatched scale, international collaborations, and an epic story at its
core — the film has the potential to become India’s greatest cinematic export.
