4000 Crore Ramayana: Ranbir Kapoor's Magnum Opus Aims for Hollywood Benchmark, Faces Its Biggest Test

Ranbir Kapoor’s upcoming epic Ramayana is being hailed as the most ambitious project in Indian cinema, with a staggering budget of ₹4000 crore. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and featuring a star-studded cast including Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Amitabh Bachchan, Sai Pallavi, and Sunny Deol, the film is being positioned not just as a Bollywood spectacle but as a global cinematic event.

A Film Beyond Borders

Producer Namit Malhotra, in an interview with the LA Times, revealed that Ramayana has been envisioned as a worldwide release from the very beginning.
“It’s a global film from the day we started making it. I’m not making it just to please audiences in India. It should speak to people everywhere, like any other great film,” he said.

The Hollywood Comparison

Malhotra boldly compared Ramayana to legendary Hollywood blockbusters such as James Cameron’s Avatar, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, and even Christopher Nolan’s films. He stressed that the biggest challenge is to ensure the story appeals universally:
“In my opinion, if the West doesn’t like it, I consider it a failure. This film is for the world. If people don’t connect with it, that’s on us—we should have done a better job.”

Director’s Vision

Director Nitesh Tiwari believes the timeless tale has the emotional depth to cross cultural boundaries.
“Emotions are universal. If the audience connects emotionally, they will connect with the entire story. Emotions have the power to transcend borders,” he said.

Global Hype Builds Up

Even IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond is optimistic, saying the film has all the makings of a worldwide blockbuster.
“Based on what we have seen, it has all the elements of global success,” he said.