Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana producer discusses if the film doesn’t work in the West

Namit Malhotra, producer of Nitesh Tiwari-directed Ramayana, says that the film would be a ‘failure’ if the West doesn’t like it.

Ever since Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Goddess Seeta, was announced, the film has remained at the top of headlines. With a budget of ₹4,000 crore, the film is set to become India’s priciest film. The epic aims for international resonance, targeting global audiences.

Namit Malhotra aims to bring Ramayana to a global audience.

Backed by Namit Malhotra of Prime Focus Studios, the two-part epic carries a staggering combined budget of ₹4,000 crore. With a star-studded cast, international collaborators, and cutting-edge tech, Namit aims to position Indian mythology on the global cinematic map. During a recent interview with the LA Times, he emphasised that he intends the film to have a global mark. He said, “It’s a global film from the day we start. I’m not trying to make it to appease Indian people in India… If you go and watch Ramayana and your family watches it, and people in India watch it, what’s the difference? It should speak to you like any other film.”

Namit Malhotra discusses whether Ramayana can succeed in the West.

He mentioned that Ramayana is crafted to resonate with both believers and non-believers and aims to transcend religious or cultural boundaries. He shared, “In my mind, if people in the West don’t like it, I consider that a failure. It is meant for the world. If you don’t like it, shame on me; we should have done a better job.” Echoing the sentiment, director Nitesh Tiwari highlighted the film’s emotional core. He said, “Emotions are universal. If the audience connects emotionally, they will connect with the story, no matter where they’re from.”

Ramayana will be a two-part mythological epic starring Ranbir Kapoor (Ram), Yash (Ravana), Sai Pallavi (Seeta), Sunny Deol (Hanuman), Amitabh Bachchan (Jatayu) and Ravi Dubey (Laxman), among others. The film, featuring music by Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman, is set for release during Diwali 2026.