You know a film is special when the person funding it doesn’t care about the money—and that’s exactly what’s happening with Ramayana. Producer Namit Malhotra isn’t just writing big cheques; he’s pouring his soul into what’s shaping up to be India’s most expensive cinematic epic ever.
According to trade analyst Komal Nahata, Malhotra is ready to spend “even three times” the reported ₹4,000 crore budget if that’s what it takes to do justice to the story of Lord Ram. That’s right. Not one, not two, but potentially over ₹12,000 crore just to bring this vision to life.
More Than Just a Film—It’s a Passion Project
On a recent podcast with Faridoon Shahryar, Komal Nahata shared what happened when he asked Namit Malhotra about the mind-blowing budget rumors. Malhotra didn’t quote numbers. He didn’t give percentages. He just said, “I’m not here to calculate the budget. I want to make Ramayana with shiddat [pure passion].”
That one line says it all. For Malhotra, this isn’t a business move. It’s a calling. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to retell India’s most sacred epic with the kind of scale and sophistication that global audiences have come to expect from Hollywood blockbusters.
Ranbir Kapoor as Ram—and It’s Personal
Ranbir Kapoor is all set to play Lord Ram, and from the sound of it, he’s not holding back. Insiders say Ranbir has committed “2,000%” to the role, both physically and emotionally. His co-stars have even pointed out that there’s something different about his eyes now—like he’s already transformed into the character.

From the look of things, Ramayana won’t be just another period film with fancy costumes. It’s going to be a deeply spiritual, visually stunning, emotionally charged experience. And Ranbir is diving headfirst into it.
The Budget That Has the Whole Industry Talking
So how did we get to ₹4,000 crore—or more?
Malhotra, who also heads global VFX giant DNEG (which worked on Oppenheimer, Inception, and Interstellar), started thinking about Ramayana seriously right after the pandemic. And while most people in the industry thought he was “a lunatic” for dreaming so big, he didn’t back down.
He estimates that by the time Part 1 and Part 2 are wrapped, the total budget could touch around $500 million—that’s roughly ₹4,100 crore. And if more is needed to do it right, he’s willing to spend that too.
Think about it. This is not just an Indian project anymore. This is India’s Lord of the Rings or Avatar, but rooted in one of the most powerful spiritual epics of all time.
A Global Vision for an Indian Story
What makes this even more exciting is the global ambition behind it. Malhotra isn’t just thinking about India—he wants the whole world to experience Ramayana the way we know it, with all its depth, emotion, and grandeur.
That means next-level VFX, global distribution, a cast that can carry the emotional weight, and storytelling that doesn’t cut corners. He’s even bringing on board some of the best artists and technicians from around the world.
So no, this isn’t just a film. It’s a movement. A cultural reset. And possibly the biggest bet ever placed in Indian cinema.
What’s Next?
The buzz around Ramayana is only growing louder. From the first-look teaser to on-set leaks, every little detail is grabbing headlines. And with a release strategy reportedly being planned across multiple languages and continents, we could be looking at a game-changer for Indian film on the global stage.
Will the film live up to the hype? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure—Namit Malhotra isn’t holding back. Not on money. Not on scale. And definitely not on heart.
When someone’s willing to throw ₹4,000 crore—and maybe even three times that—into telling the story of Lord Ram with soul and scale, you know it’s not about money anymore. It’s about legacy. And Ramayana, in Malhotra’s hands, just might become one for the ages.