The upcoming film Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor, has become a topic of discussion, not just for its casting and ambitious retelling of the Hindu epic, but also for its massive budget. Recent reports estimate the film's budget to be around ₹4000 crore. This colossal figure has sparked reactions within the film industry, including a seemingly indirect comment from director Sanjay Gupta.
According to reports, producer Namit Malhotra revealed the budget for the two-part Ramayana saga, leading Sanjay Gupta to post a cryptic message on social media. Gupta's post mentioned Hollywood films known for their groundbreaking VFX, such as The Matrix, The Lord of the Rings, Avatar, Dune, and Star Wars, noting that these films "let the work speak for itself" before release, seemingly implying that the Ramayana team is focusing too much on the budget.
Social media users were quick to interpret Gupta's post as a jab at Malhotra and the Ramayana production. Some users pointed out that Hollywood studios often promote the budgets, technology, and ambitions of their films well in advance of their release, questioning the perceived double standard.
Interestingly, Namit Malhotra's company, DNEG, has handled the VFX for many of the films Gupta mentioned in his post. Malhotra has stated that Ramayana is the "hardest VFX project that DNEG has ever done". He also clarified that the project is being funded privately.
The film is planned as a two-part franchise, with a total budget of ₹1600 crore. According to reports, ₹835 crore is allocated for Part 1, and ₹700 crore for Part 2. Some reports suggest the budget could be closer to ₹2000 crore. The reduction in budget for the second part is because the sets and character designs created for the first film will be reused. The first part is slated for release in Diwali 2026, with the second part following in Diwali 2027.
Ramayana boasts a star-studded cast, with Ranbir Kapoor reportedly playing Lord Rama and Parashurama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana. Sunny Deol will portray Hanuman, Ravi Dubey will play Lakshmana, and Amitabh Bachchan will appear as Jatayu. The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Prime Focus Studios and Monster Mind Creations. A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer will compose the music.
The first glimpse of the film, released on July 3, 2025, generated excitement. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh called it a potential "box office hurricane". However, analysts estimate that the film needs to gross ₹1,600–1,800 crore globally to break even.
The film has also faced some controversy regarding casting choices and how religious sentiments are handled. While no lawsuits have been filed, the production team is working with major studios to meet certification standards and respect religious feelings.
