Producer Compares Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana to Avatar, Warns Success May Depend on Western Audience

Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana Targets Global Audience, Producer Compares Scale to Avatar

Indian cinema is about to witness its most ambitious project yet. Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming two-part epic, Ramayana, featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Amitabh Bachchan, Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, and others, has officially become the most expensive Indian film ever, with a combined budget of around ₹4,000 crore ($500 million).

The makers are betting big on a global reception. Producer Namit Malhotra told the LA Times, “It’s a global film from the day we start. I’m not trying to make it to appease Indian audiences alone… If people in the West don’t like it, I consider that a failure. It is meant for the world.”

Malhotra even compared the project to Avatar, Gladiator, and the works of Christopher Nolan, stressing that the film must resonate with both believers and non-believers.

‘Emotions Are Universal’

Director Nitesh Tiwari highlighted that emotional storytelling will drive the film’s impact: “If the audience connects with you emotionally, they will connect with the whole story. Emotions have the power to travel across boundaries.”

Adding to the optimism, Richard Gelfond, CEO of IMAX, expressed confidence in its potential: “Judging from what we’ve seen, this has all the elements to be a global success.”

Cultural and Cinematic Significance

Actor Kunal Kapoor, who plays Lord Indra, earlier that the film is not only culturally significant but also mounted on a scale Indian cinema has “never seen before.” He described it as “a spectacle that will surprise audiences.”

Cast and Release Timeline

• Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram
• Sai Pallavi as Sita
• Yash as Raavan
• Sunny Deol as Hanuman
• Amitabh Bachchan in a key role (yet to be revealed)
• Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi
• Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara
• Ravi Dubey as Lakshman
• Arun Govil as King Dasharatha

The film will release in two parts: Diwali 2026 (Ramayana Part 1) and Diwali 2027 (Ramayana Part 2). As per reports, filming for the second part will be completed by October this year.

With its staggering scale and international ambition, Ramayana aims to rewrite the rules of Indian cinema and establish itself as a global cinematic event.