Ramayana 2026: India’s Most Expensive Epic Set to Break Records?

Ramayana Upcoming Movie in 2026: Ranbir Kapoor takes on the role of Lord Ram in this high-budget epic, joined by Sai Pallavi, Yash, and Sunny Deol in India’s most ambitious and grand retelling of the timeless saga.

How much do you think went into the making of Ramayana?

When you wonder how much money goes into making a film, the highest-cost movies that might come to mind would be Titanic ($200 million) or Star Wars ($447 million). If you’re more inclined toward Indian cinema, maybe RRR (INR 500 crore or $60 million) would cross your mind. However, you still wouldn’t be able to guess the budget of this particular film. It’s a whopping INR 4,000 crore ($500 million). It’s mind-boggling to see how far Indian cinema has come.

Very few movies in either Hollywood or Bollywood come close to the budget of Ramayana. Even if you count back-to-back productions, nothing quite compares. Scheduled for release on Diwali 2026, Ramayana is an ambitious adaptation of the timeless Indian epic.

It is undoubtedly the most passionate Indian movie ever produced. In a conversation on The Prakhar Gupta Xperience podcast, Namit Malhotra, the producer said, “When we set out to make it, 6-7 years ago, when we really got serious about mounting it, everybody called me a lunatic, because no Indian film comes close to it budget-wise. To put it simply, it will be about $500 million by the time we are done with both the films – Part 1 and Part 2, which is over ₹4000 crore.”

Adding on to that, he said, “We are making the largest film in the world for the greatest story the world should see. I still think it is cheaper than some of the big Hollywood films. I think we are making a bigger film at a lower cost. That Indian in me still believes we are not being irresponsible with money.”

The Ramayana is set to come alive in two majestic chapters, with the first film arriving on Diwali 2026 and the second following on Diwali 2027. The epic has been carefully spread across these two parts to capture its depth and magnificence. The film promises an epic cinematic experience, and the scale of the vision behind it is unfathomable.

Cast of Ramayana Movie

In this grand remake of the epic, Ranbir Kapoor plays the role of Lord Ram, alongside Sai Pallavi, who portrays Mata Sita and brings grace to the goddess, while KGF sensation Yash takes on the mighty Ravana. Adding to the grandeur, Sunny Deol steps into the rather hard-to-fill shoes of Lord Hanuman, promising a strong and memorable portrayal. Along with them, the supporting cast, too, is packed with seasoned actors and fan favourites. The introductory teaser, coupled with some behind-the-scenes footage, has surfaced online, and fans are buzzing with renewed excitement for the film. All of these elements, combined with the star-studded cast, promise a truly memorable viewing experience.

Production and Making:

The film is being produced collaboratively by Yash and Namit Malhotra, the founder and non-executive director of Prime Focus Limited, the parent company of DNEG, and its global CEO. DNEG’s contributions to Dune: Part One, Tenet, First Man, Blade Runner 2049, Ex Machina, Interstellar, and Inception have earned it seven Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects.

There is a significant effort to get the Indian epic in front of viewers all across the world, as the producers are apparently in discussions with Warner Bros. for international rollout.

Coming to the best part, music- the film’s soundtrack will be supported by the legendary partnership of Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman and the silver screen icon Hans Zimmer (who is making his Bollywood debut ) for the sound design of Ramayana collaboration, few would want to miss.

Director: Nitesh Tiwari

Nitesh Tiwari co-directed Chillar Party (2011), which won the National Film Award for Best Children’s Film, marking his directorial debut. He went on to direct Bhoothnath Returns (2014), a supernatural political drama. Another of his acclaimed creations, Dangal (2016), was showcased at the second annual BRICS Film Festival in June 2017 and at the Beijing International Film Festival in April 2017. Tiwari has received many awards, including the Telstra People’s Choice Award at the 2017 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne and the Filmfare Award for Best Director at the 62nd Filmfare Awards, and earned widespread praise and multiple nominations for his comedy-drama Chhichhore (2019).

F.A.Q.

1. Cast of Ramayana film

Ans. Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash and Lara Dutta play the major roles.

2. Ramayana film release date?

Ans. Diwali- November 2026.

3. Ramayana film budget?

Ans. INR 4000 crore.

4. Who is designing and giving the music for Ramayana (2026)

Ans. A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer.