Ramayana Producer Namit Malhotra has finally addressed the much-talked-about budget of director Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming mythological epic, Ramayana. The film, which is being made in two parts, is now officially the most expensive Indian movie ever produced. According to Malhotra, the total cost of the project will cross a massive amount of Rs 4000 crore, or roughly 500 million US dollars.
Malhotra made this revelation during his appearance on Prakhar Gupta’s podcast, where he spoke candidly about the challenges and vision behind bringing this epic to life. He said, “Budget-wise, it was like…everybody thought I was a lunatic because no Indian film by a long distance comes close to it,” Malhotra said. “To put it simply, it will be like 500 million dollars by the time we are done on both films put together—Part One and Part Two, which is over Rs 4000 crores.”
🚨 Confirmed : #Ramayana Movie Budget is $500 Million (₹4000 Cr) for Two Part 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QtqjqQdHuz
— The Ramayana 🏹 (@RamayanaSaga) July 14, 2025
A dream project with global ambition
For Malhotra, who is also the CEO of VFX giant DNEG and Prime Focus, Ramayana isn’t just a big-budget gamble. It’s a passion project—one that he believes will introduce the grandeur of Indian storytelling to a global audience. He described the film as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to present the Ramayana on a scale that’s never been seen before.
He explained how the team is aiming to make not just India’s biggest film, but a truly global cinematic experience. “We’re producing the biggest film ever for the most epic tale that everyone should witness.”
Big budget, but still value for money
Despite the eye-watering cost, Malhotra said that Ramayana still offers better value compared to some of the most expensive films made in Hollywood. “And I still think it’s cheaper than some of the big Hollywood films. So I think we’re making a bigger film at a lower cost. For me, it’s not a money-driven thing, honestly,”.
A stellar cast for an epic tale
While the production team hasn’t made formal announcements about the cast, reports suggest that the film will feature some of the biggest names in Indian cinema. Ranbir Kapoor is expected to play Lord Ram, Yash will take on the role of Ravana, Sunny Deol is likely to play Lord Hanuman, and Sai Pallavi is said to portray Mata Sita.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, known for Dangal and Chhichhore, Ramayana is being developed as a two-part film. With its scale, story, and vision, it promises to be a landmark moment not just for Indian cinema but for the global film industry as well.
