Ramayana is India’s answer to Hollywood! Namit Malhotra reveals 'film was born out of frustration'

Filmmaker and global VFX powerhouse Namit Malhotra isn’t just backing a mythological epic - he’s mounting a cultural statement. His ambitious two-part adaptation of Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, aims to present India’s civilisational grandeur to the world on a scale rarely attempted before. At a recent industry event, Malhotra opened up about how the project took shape - and why it became personal.

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A Cultural Void in Hollywood

Speaking at an event organised by ET Now, Malhotra reflected on his early years in Hollywood and the absence he keenly felt.

“When I went to Hollywood, I saw that we had no real presence. They didn’t have any representation of our history or culture. I’ve spent the last two decades really trying to establish a foothold in Hollywood, and unlike other American industries like finance and medicine, where Indians have had success, they didn't have an appreciation for our industry, our history or culture," said Malhotra.

As the head of DNEG, the VFX giant behind multiple Oscar-winning films, Malhotra had a front-row seat to global storytelling - yet found Indian narratives missing from the grand stage.

From Frustration to Vision

That absence slowly turned into resolve.

Malhotra added, “It kept frustrating me through this lens of an emerging country, whether it was Slumdog Millionaire. We were always the victim. That always troubled me. I always thought we needed to show who we are, where we come from, and the richness of our history the way the world has never seen before. That really became the genesis of why Ramayana is the perfect story of our history that can be presented and shown to the world with pride.” 

For Malhotra, Ramayana isn’t merely a film - it is an assertion of identity, history, and pride on a global canvas.

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Mounted on an Unprecedented Scale

The two-part saga, reportedly mounted on a staggering $500 million budget, is being described as the most expensive Indian film project ever. Backed by Prime Focus Studios, along with Monster Mind Creations and Atlas Entertainment, the film brings together Indian ambition and international muscle.

Malhotra emphasised that scale is central to the vision.

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He said, “We have everything that the biggest Hollywood spectacles have, and one has made sure that we mount it at that scale and budget. Technical engagement and visual scale are second to none. People should feel tremendous pride that we are making what is the largest film, as an independently financed film from anywhere in the world.”

With world-class VFX craftsmanship and mythological storytelling at its heart, Ramayana aspires to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with global cinematic giants - not as a response, but as a revelation.