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Namit Malhotra and Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming magnum opus Ramayana is undoubtedly one of the highly anticipated projects. Fans are waiting with bated breath to witness Ranbir Kapoor, Sunny Deol, Yash, Ravi Dubey and Sai Pallavi essaying Lord Rama, Lord Hanuman, Demon King Ravana, Lakshman and Devi Sita, respectively, on big screens. Apart from the lead characters, the ensemble cast includes several popular actors in supporting roles.
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Earlier reports suggested that the staggering production budget of both parts of Ramayana is Rs 1600 crore, with Rs 900 crore for the first part and Rs 700 crore for the second. However, according to Namit Malhotra's recent revelations, the cinematic adaptation of the Indian epic is the most expensive project ever made in India.
Namit Malhotra Makes Big Revelations
Fans are well aware that Ramayana is made on a grand scale like never before. During a recent podcast interview with Prakhar Gupta, producer Namit Malhotra, who is also the founder and non-executive director of Prime Focus Limited, a leading Indian visual and special effects company, made big and surprising revelations about the budget of Ramayana. He also shared the journey behind it and the vision guiding its creation.
Ramayana Made at a Budget Over Rs 4000 Crore!
Namit shared that they set out to make the film six to seven years ago, just after the pandemic. When they started to get serious about producing and mounting the project, budget-wise, everybody thought him a lunatic.
"No Indian film, by a long distance, comes close to it. So, to put it simply, it’ll be about $500 million by the time we’re done, on both films put together, part one and part two, which is over Rs 4,000 crore,” he added.
Further, he revealed that they haven't taken money from anyone and are funding it themselves.
Talking about the scale of spending, Namit said that the project is both financially responsible and creatively necessary.
'Largest Film For The Greatest Story'
“We’re making the largest film in the world for the greatest story, the greatest epic, that the world should see. And I still think it’s cheaper than what it costs to make some of the biggest Hollywood films. So I think we’re making a bigger film at a lower cost. Because that Indian in me still believes that we’re not being irresponsible financially. We’re not being irresponsible with money,” added Namit.
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For him, Ramayana is a way to honour India's foundational cultural ethos and share it with the world.
'Is that a Risk?'
Further, Namit said, "I’m going to mount it and present it in the grandest form possible. And it’s going to cost whatever it costs. Why is that a risk? When I think about Ramayana, I’m like, is it really a risk? All I’m doing is I have to just make sure we do justice to people’s expectations, and beyond. There has to be pride that must come through, in every Indian first, and then every other person in the world, to say: that’s a great piece of culture."
