From India to the world, Namit Malhotra’s Ramayana is gearing up for a grand Diwali release. Set to arrive in theatres just ahead of the festival, the Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi starrer is among the most anticipated films of the year. Touted as the most expensive Indian film ever made, it brings together a star-studded cast, a world-class VFX team and acclaimed music composers. With advance bookings now open, all eyes are on the mythological epic as theatres worldwide prepare to welcome its retelling of the Hindu tale of good triumphing over evil. Ahead of its release, we spoke to trade experts to understand the film’s box office prospects. Here’s what they had to say!
Ramayana Day 1 Box Office Prediction
“Box office prediction for in terms of its intrinsic potential is unlimited. The sky is the limit,” feels trade guru Akkshay Rathie. He told Zoom, “But if you talk about the opening, if you look at all the languages combined, I expect anywhere around Rs 100-125 crore on day one in the domestic market alone.”
He further explained that the film’s overseas performance would depend on how widely Sony distributes it, the markets it manages to enter and whether non-traditional cinema chains screen it. He added that its reach beyond the Indian diaspora would also play a crucial role. That said, he expects the film to earn at least Rs 100-125 crore on its opening day, in India alone.
Trade analyst and film critic Taran Adarsh, on the other hand, said it’s too early to predict the film’s opening-day collection as advance bookings have currently opened only at select screens. He pointed out that spot bookings would also play a crucial role, with several factors likely to influence the final numbers on the day of release. He added that the show timings and screen allocations are yet to be finalised.
Ramayana
Ranbir Kapoor-Yash Film Eyes Massive Opening
Meanwhile, industry expert Girish Johar pointed out that the film is releasing ahead of Diwali, with its theatrical debut scheduled for Thursday and the festival falling on Sunday. He believes the major business will begin from Sunday onwards, making the initial advance booking figures encouraging. He added that he hopes the film opens to Rs 50 crore across languages in the domestic market and collects Rs 250 crore over its opening weekend. He noted that the pre-Diwali release should be taken into consideration.
“Having said that, I am quite confident in the reviews coming in from the overseas screenings. Whatever trade feedback we are getting, I believe the film is here for the long haul. Nitesh Tiwari is a man to be kept an eye on. The star cast is huge; the technicians are big. Everyone is doing their bit; it’s a team effort,” he added.
For now, all eyes are on ! The film, helmed by Nitesh Tiwari, is arriving in cinema halls on November 5, 2026.