'Ramayana': Can Ranbir and Yash's Rs 4,000 crore epic become a landmark in Indian cinema?

Nitesh Tiwari's ambitious adaptation of the Indian epic 'Ramayana' is just a day away from its theatrical release on November 5, 2026, and the film has already generated considerable buzz at the box office. Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita and Yash as Ravana, the two-part mythological saga is witnessing a strong response in domestic and international markets.

With its advance bookings nearing the Rs 100 crore mark, the film is now drawing attention for its potential to become a landmark project in Indian cinema.According to Sacnilk's advance-booking figures, 'Ramayana' has recorded Rs 96.64 crore in gross pre-sales across India, including blocked seats, as of the November 4 morning update. The film has sold approximately 25.68 lakh tickets across more than 83,000 shows in 898 cities.

Without blocked seats, the advance gross stands at Rs 77.38 crore. The Hindi version is leading the collections by a considerable margin, while the Telugu and Kannada versions have also contributed significantly.

The language-wise figures currently stand at:

Hindi: Rs 78.88 croreTelugu: Rs 8.09 croreKannada: Rs 7.27 croreTamil: Rs 1.84 crore

Malayalam: Rs 49.23 lakh

The figures underline the dominance of the Hindi version, which accounts for more than 80 per cent of the film's reported domestic advance gross.

The Telugu and Kannada versions have also registered a notable response, giving the film a substantial presence in southern markets.The film is also attracting considerable interest overseas, particularly in North America. Reports indicate that paid-preview bookings in the US have crossed USD 1.2 million, while opening-weekend advance sales in the territory are around USD 3 million.

Australia and the UK have also contributed to the international pre-release business.

More recent trade reports have put the worldwide opening-weekend advance gross above Rs 100 crore.The scale of the project has been another major talking point. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, 'Ramayana' is being developed as a two-part adaptation of the Indian epic. The combined budget of the two instalments has been estimated at around Rs 4,000 crore, or approximately USD 420 million–USD 500 million, making it one of the most expensive film projects attempted in India.The reported expenditure covers production, visual effects, post-production and international promotional campaigns. DNEG is handling the extensive visual effects work required to bring the epic's world to the screen. Industry reports have placed the first instalment's overall cost at approximately Rs 2,000 crore, although the standalone production budget has not been officially confirmed. The core filming expenditure has reportedly been estimated at Rs 1,000–1,100 crore.The reported remuneration of the principal cast has also attracted attention.

Ranbir Kapoor is said to have been paid Rs 150 crore for both instalments, which would amount to Rs 75 crore per film. Yash, who plays Ravana and is also associated with the project as a co-producer, has reportedly been offered Rs 100 crore across the two films. Sunny Deol, who portrays Hanuman, is said to have received Rs 40 crore, while Sai Pallavi's reported remuneration for playing Goddess Sita is Rs 12 crore for both instalments.

These figures are based on media reports and have not been officially confirmed by the makers.Adding to the film's international appeal is its music, which brings together A.R. Rahman and renowned Hollywood composer

Hans Zimmer

. Their collaboration is among the notable aspects of the ambitious production. The ensemble cast also features Ravie Dubey, Anupam Kher, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor, Arun Govil, Indira Krishnan and Lara Dutta.With an extensive visual effects setup, a reported multi-thousand-crore budget, a prominent ensemble cast and growing international interest, 'Ramayana' is aiming to create a new benchmark for Indian mythological cinema. Whether the film can translate its impressive pre-release numbers into a historic theatrical run will become clearer once it opens in cinemas on November 5.