Producer Namit Malhotra is taking a huge risk by mounting a massive, two-part film adaptation of Ramayana for the big screen. The teaser, released recently, showcases a grand visual world with Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, backed by a combined production budget of about Rs 4,000 crore for both parts.
Ramayan Makers Turn Down Record OTT Offer
Instead of playing it safe by immediately selling digital, satellite, and music rights, Namit has kept all these assets with himself for now. Reports say he turned down an offer of nearly Rs 700 crore for the post-theatrical streaming rights of both films, even though this would have been one of the highest OTT deals ever for an Indian project.
Eyeing a Bigger Streaming Deal
Namit and his team believe Ramayana has long-term value and emotional connect, so they are targeting a digital deal closer to Rs 1,000 crore for both parts together. The idea is to recover the remaining roughly Rs 3,000 crore through worldwide theatrical business and other revenue streams.
The team is confident that as more footage and promos from Ramayana are revealed, interest from major OTT platforms will grow. They are willing to wait for the right offer and the right partner instead of rushing into a deal now. There is also talk that they may choose to sell the OTT rights of the first part initially and hold back the second part until after the first film’s release, similar to how the Dhurandhar team handled their franchise.
Star Cast and Release Plan
The Ramayana films feature Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, and Sunny Deol in key roles, aiming at both Indian and global audiences. The first part is slated to arrive in cinemas around Diwali 2026, with the second part expected to follow in a later festive window.