Ramayana producer talks about taking the Ranbir Kapoor-Yash starrer global; says Hollywood always saw us as poor and victim: 'That's not who we are'
In a bold attempt to reframe how Indian epics are viewed on the world stage, Ramayana producer Namit Malhotra is setting out to deliver more than just a film — he's crafting a cinematic spectacle that aims to redefine India's cultural identity in global cinema.
With an ensemble cast led by
Ranbir Kapoor
and an extraordinary cross-continental collaboration between AR Rahman and
Hans Zimmer
, this mythological epic promises to be one of the most ambitious projects in Indian film history.
Speaking on a podcast with Prakhar Gupta, Namit revealed that his childhood love for cinema—especially Jurassic Park—ignited his dream to create something epic. 'When Jurassic Park came out, I was in awe… It made me want to be a filmmaker, to build worlds,' he recalled, reflecting on the film's lasting impact.
However, it was during the recent Hollywood writers' strike that the producer found a rare pause—one that allowed him to reflect not just on his own journey, but also on the way Indian stories have been represented on the global stage.
He also observed that many Indian stories which gained global acclaim—such as Slumdog Millionaire, Gandhi, Lion, and even RRR—often portrayed Indians through themes of poverty or struggle.
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While he acknowledged their success, he felt these narratives didn't reflect the strength and richness of Indian culture. This realisation led him to choose Ramayana as the story to bring to the global stage, aiming to highlight India's civilisational legacy with pride and scale.
Namit, the powerhouse behind visual effects for Hollywood epics like Dune, Oppenheimer, Inception, and Interstellar, is now stepping into the creative limelight with Ramayana.
Through Prime Focus and DNEG, he's helped shape cinematic history — but with this mythological magnum opus, he's determined to reshape global perceptions of Indian cinema and storytelling.
Ramayana is poised to be a cinematic spectacle told in two parts, with Part 1 slated for a Diwali 2026 release and Part 2 following in 2027. The film features a star-studded cast — Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram,
Yash
as Ravana,
Sai Pallavi
as Sita, Ravie Dubey as Laxmana, and
Sunny Deol
as Hanuman. Elevating its global ambition is an unprecedented musical collaboration between A.R. Rahman and Hollywood maestro Hans Zimmer, who marks his Bollywood debut with the film's score.
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