Actor Ranbir Kapoor in the epic blockbuster Ramayana – Photo: Prime Focus Studios
According to News18 , since the trailer for the Indian epic Ramayana was released, audience excitement has reached its peak. From the cast and script to the scale of the mythological epic, every element has fans eagerly anticipating the film’s premiere on November 8, 2026.
The plot follows the journey of Prince Rama (Ranbir Kapoor) after his exile with his wife Sita (Sai Pallavi). Tragedy strikes when Sita is abducted by the demon king Ravana (Yash), initiating an epic battle between good and evil.
Did Ramayana really cost $500 million?
In addition, one figure that is constantly mentioned is the 40 billion Indian rupees (approximately 500 million USD) that the producers spent to bring Ramayana to life. This budget far exceeds that of almost every film ever produced in Bollywood history.
Director Nitesh Tiwari – the man behind Dangal , the highest-grossing Indian film of all time – made Ramayana in two parts.
The first part is scheduled to be released during Diwali 2026 (India’s largest and most ancient festival of lights), while the second part will be released during Diwali 2027.
However, $500 million is the total cost of both films, not just production costs. According to many sources, the actual filming budget was significantly lower, and the final figure includes: production, visual effects, global marketing campaign, international release, IMAX format, and distribution costs for two consecutive years of screenings.
In other words, this isn’t just the money used for filming, but also the cost of bringing Ramayana to audiences worldwide .
The visual effects team behind The Odyssey
Ramayana ‘s biggest investment lies in its visual effects. The film is handled by DNEG – an Oscar-winning visual effects studio known for works such as Dune , Interstellar , Blade Runner 2049 , and The Odyssey . Reports indicate that over 10,000 VFX artists worldwide are involved in the project.
Scenes like Ayodhya, Lanka, the ten heads of Ravana, or the Vanara army were largely created using digital technology rather than being filmed on location.
Ramayana will be dubbed into multiple languages for international release – Photo: Prime Focus Studios
The production team also utilized virtual production technology (a filmmaking method that combines the real and digital worlds in real time) – a technique previously used in Avatar 2: The Way of Water and The Mandalorian . This is a cutting-edge technology, but it also significantly increased production costs.
Music is also a major budget-intensive element. For the first time, AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer collaborated on a film project.
Hans Zimmer is famous for the music in The Dark Knight, Inception, Gladiator , and Dune , while AR Rahman is one of the greatest composers of Indian cinema.
Bringing together two Oscar winners for a two-part epic is considered one of the biggest musical collaborations in Indian film history, meaning a considerable fee was involved.
Poster for the epic film Ramayana – Photo: Prime Focus Studios
Ramayana boasts a strong cast: Ranbir Kapoor as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman.
The signing of numerous stars for the two films also contributed to a significant increase in the total budget.
Both parts of the Ramayana were produced specifically for the IMAX system. This is not simply about showing it on a larger screen. Filming in IMAX requires specialized cameras, a dedicated post-production process, and many more complex technical procedures than with regular films.
In return, this format provides a superior visual experience and allows distributors to sell tickets at higher prices.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/an-do-chi-500-trieu-usd-lam-phim-su-thi-ramayana-tham-vong-soan-ngoi-the-odyssey-100260802105205748.htm