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India Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Ranbir Kapoor is not just actor in Ramayana, but also an investor in its VFX firm
Actor Ranbir Kapoor has made a huge leap in his professional career by moving forward from Bollywood to Wall Street. he is not just playing Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayana' but has also invested in Prime Focus, which owns the global VFX giant - Double Negative (DNEG)Investment in Oscar-wining VFX giantRanbir, who plays Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayana', has made a Rs 15 crore investment in a film, as reported by ET Markets. His giant feat has led to a surge of over 90% in the company's stocks, the report has acquired 12.5 lakh shares of Prime Focus, the company behind the visual effects of 'Ramayana'. The price per share of his Rs 15 crore investment is around Rs 15 crore. The estimates also mentioned that since April, Prime Focus stock has jumped over 90%, hitting a record high of Rs 175 from Rs 85. The rise in the company's stock has been witnessed ever since the first glimpse of 'Ramayana' was released on July 3, Prime Focus owns Double Negative (DNEG), a global VFX giant behind Oscar-winning films like 'Tenet', 'Dune: Part 2' and 'Oppenheimer'. DNEG has received eight Academy Awards over the years. The visual effects of 'Ramayana', have led to its gigantic budget of Rs 4000 crore, spread across two parts. An India Today report quoted a source who said, "The film is being mounted at an international level and by the time both films would be made, the budget would reach over Rs 4000 crore. The team is planning to have world-class VFX and special effects to give the best experience to the audiences."Watch the first glimpse here: A visually-appealing epic in the worksPrime Focus, in which Ranbir has made the investment, is owned by producer Namit Malhotra, who is also backing 'Ramayana'. Namit is also the CEO of its British-Indian subsidiary DNEG, which specialises in visual effects. Apart from the grand visuals, action sequences of the film are designed by 'Mad Max' stunt director Guy Norris. Almost two months ago, actor Yash was seen shooting for an intense scene with Ramayana'Ramayana' is based on Sage Valmiki's epic of the same name and Sage Tulsidas's ancient text - Ramcharitmanas. It also features actor Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, actor Yash as the demon king Ravana and actor Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. Television actor and producer Ravie Dubey portrays Laxman in the epic-drama. Actors - Kajal Aggarwal, Vivek Oberoi, Rakul Preet Singh, Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Indira Krishnan, Kunal Kapoor, Sheeba Chadha and others also play key roles in the Nitesh Tiwari first part, titled 'Ramayana: Part 1', is slated to be released on Diwali 2026. The final instalment will be released on Diwali 2027.- Ends
News18
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Nitesh Tiwari Spent 10 Years On Ramayana Script, Studied Yoga Shastra And Consulted Pandits: Report
Nitesh Tiwari spent a decade researching and scripting his epic Ramayana, featuring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and music by AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer. Nitesh Tiwari, known for films like Dangal and Chhichhore, has been quietly working for ten years on his epic retelling of the Ramayana. Every line, scene and dialogue has been meticulously crafted since 2015. According to a report in TOI, Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra spent years studying the Vashisht Yoga Shastras and consulting with pandits to weave spiritual wisdom into a story that speaks to today. The idea is to make the emotional journey of Ram relatable while honouring its ancient roots. The cast is star-studded. Ranbir Kapoor takes on Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi plays Sita, Yash is Ravana, Ravi Dubey becomes Lakshman, and Sunny Deol portrays Hanuman. Supporting cast includes Amitabh Bachchan, Rakul Preet Singh, Kunal Kapoor, Lara Dutta, Arun Govil and Sheeba Chadha. Their vision was unveiled in a teaser that paired glimpses of Ranbir and Yash with a powerful score by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman — marking what may be Indian cinema's most ambitious East-meets-West collaboration. Filming began only after the script felt ready. Tech rehearsals were held in Los Angeles in 2024, while elaborate sets—over a dozen of them—were built back in India. Many have now been dismantled to make way for post‑production. The film also brings in co-director Ravi Udyawar and VFX by DNEG, the Oscar‑winning studio behind Inception and Interstellar. Tiwari's Ramayana will arrive in two parts—first in Diwali 2026 and the second in Diwali 2027. The first instalment will explore Ram and Sita's early lives, their exile and Hanuman's entry. The second will focus on Ravana and the epic final battle. Ranbir Kapoor has locked Diwali 2026 and Diwali 2027 for Ramayana Part 1 and Ramayana Part 2. The film's first poster has been released along with the release date. Ranbir plays the role of Lord Ram. The two-part films are directed by Nitesh Tiwari. The release date was confirmed by Prime Focus Studios' Namit Malhotra. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Nitesh Tiwari spent 10 years on Ramayana pre-production, consulted Pandits and Vashisht Yoga Shastras for script authenticity: Report
Director Nitesh Tiwari, known for 'Dangal' and 'Chhichhore,' has reportedly spent a full decade preparing for his magnum opus 'Ramayana' being a cinematic retelling of the ancient Indian epic that aims to blend spiritual depth with visual grandeur. As revealed by the film's official social media handle the pre-production phase spanned 10 years, involving exhaustive work on scripting, screenplay, and dialogue development. Ancient texts and spiritual guidance shaped the script Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra researched the Vashisht Yoga Shastras, a renowned collection of yogic and metaphysical writings, and spoke with Pandits to guarantee cultural and philosophical authenticity. This research informed the film's thematic tone, character arcs, and narrative structure, ensuring that the screenplay was both emotionally relatable to contemporary audiences and rooted in conventional wisdom. A cast worthy of the epic The film has some well-known stars including Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. Supporting roles include Amitabh Bachchan, Rakul Preet Singh, Kunal Kapoor, Lara Dutta, Arun Govil, and Sheeba Chadha. The announcement video, which showed glimpses of Kapoor and Yash, was accompanied by a striking part composed by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, which will mark a rare East-meets-West collaboration in Indian cinema. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo A decade of devotion: why the wait was intentional The film's world-building began as early as 2015, with Tiwari and Malhotra choosing to delay production until the script met their exacting standards. The team reportedly conducted tech rehearsals in Los Angeles in early 2024 and built over 12 elaborate sets, many of which have now been dismantled as post-production begins. The film is being co-directed by Ravi Udyawar and backed by DNEG, the Oscar-winning VFX studio behind 'Inception' and 'Interstellar,' ensuring that the visual storytelling matches the spiritual scale. Release timeline and format There will be two installments of 'Ramayana' the first on is scheduled for Diwali 2026 and the second for Diwali 2027. Ram and Sita's early years, their eviction, and Hanuman's introduction will be covered in the first section, while Ravana's role and the final battle will be covered in the second.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Dune' VFX House DNEG's Immersive Experiences Unit Names NBCU's Jeff Lehman Exec Producer (Exclusive)
DNEG, the London-headquartered VFX and animation house that has won Oscars for the likes of Dune and Tenet and has also worked on The Last of Us and season 4 of Stranger Things, has named Jeff Lehman executive producer for its Immersive Experiences division, DNEG IXP. He joins the company from NBCUniversal, where he served as assistant director, media production for Universal Creative. 'Lehman brings over 20 years of experience to his new role at DNEG IXP, including a decade leading large-scale global projects for Universal Destinations & Experiences, where he oversaw media creation from blue sky development to facility installation across Universal's global parks,' the company said. 'Key projects include Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, Transformers: The Ride 3D, Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Jurassic World: The Ride, and many others.' In his new role at DNEG, Lehman will get to 'further develop DNEG IXP's digital production services offering' and 'guide the company's clients and partners through the creative process for experiential entertainment with a story-first focus, managing the full lifecycle of projects from concept through on-set direction, visual effects and post-production, and on-site integration,' the company said. More from The Hollywood Reporter Ava Phillippe, Sam Morelos Cast in Tommy Dorfman's 'Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me' (Exclusive) Charli XCX Starrer '100 Nights of Hero' to Close Venice Critics' Week 'In the End, Everything Will Be Okay' With 'Money Heist' Star Esther Acebo Boarded by Citizen Skull (Exclusive) DNEG IXP utilizes 'DNEG's Academy Award-winning visual effects capabilities and the AI-driven technologies developed by fellow Prime Focus Group company Brahma, to deliver breakthrough creative experiences across theme park experiences, location-based entertainment, advertising, gaming, music, and more,' according to the firm. 'We're breaking the boundaries of traditional screens and bringing storytelling into the physical world,' said Lehman. 'With DNEG's legacy of award-winning artistry and technological innovation, this is a rare opportunity to redefine how audiences experience narrative – blending the cinematic with the tangible to create fully immersive, location-based worlds. It's an exciting new frontier in experiential entertainment.' Added DNEG president of VFX Rohan Desai: 'We have worked closely with Jeff over a number of years on some truly outstanding experiential attractions for Universal's global theme park portfolio, and I have always admired his knowledge, clear creative direction, and drive. As a filmmaker himself, Jeff brings a unique perspective to the creation of narrative-driven media for experiential attractions, which complements his technical expertise and extensive hands-on experience.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Busan Film Festival to Honor Jafar Panahi as Asian Filmmaker of the Year
The Busan International Film Festival has selected Iranian auteur Jafar Panahi as its 2025 Asian Filmmaker of the Year, honoring the director's uncompromising contributions to Asian and world cinema. Panahi will receive the award during the opening ceremony of BIFF's 30th edition, which runs Sept. 17–26 in the South Korean port city. The accolade, one of the festival's highest honors, is presented annually to an individual or organization that has made a significant impact on the development of Asian cinema. Past recipients include an elite roster of artists and autuers, such as Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Chow Yun-fat, Tony Leung, Ann Hui, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Hou Hsiao-hsien, and the late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, among others. More from The Hollywood Reporter 'Dune' VFX House DNEG's Immersive Experiences Unit Names NBCU's Jeff Lehman Exec Producer (Exclusive) A Weakening U.S. Dollar Worries Film and TV Producers in Canada Ava Phillippe, Sam Morelos Cast in Tommy Dorfman's 'Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me' (Exclusive) A central figure in Iran's New Wave cinema, Panahi came to prominence with his debut The White Balloon (1995), winner of Cannes' Camera d'Or. He has since built a career defined by formal rigor and fearless political critique, continuing to create films despite a state-imposed ban and multiple arrests. Earlier this year, Panahi completed the rare European festival trifecta, taking home the Palme d'Or at Cannes for It Was Just an Accident (2025). The Hollywood Reporter's critic on the ground at the festival hailed the film as 'a shrewdly crafted vengeance film' that 'slowly but surely builds into a stark condemnation of abusive power and its long-lasting effects.'Panahi previously won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival for Taxi (2015) and the Golden Lion at Venice for The Circle (2000), making him the first Asian director to claim the top prize at all three major European festivals. Accepting the Palme d'Or at the Cannes ceremony, Panahi said: ''At a time when making films in my country becomes more difficult every day, this recognition reminds me that cinema can still connect us beyond borders, languages, and limitations. I not only accept this award in my own name, but also on behalf of all those who, in silence, in exile, or under pressure, continue to create.' Neon acquired North American theatrical rights to It Was Just an Accident at Cannes and plans to release the film on Oct. 15. The 30th Busan International Film Festival will be headquartered once again at the Busan Cinema Center, with screenings and special events taking place throughout the city. BIFF's Asian Project Market (APM), a vital incubator for emerging filmmakers across the region, runs concurrently with the festival. The event will unveil its competition selection in late August. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The 40 Greatest Needle Drops in Film History The 40 Best Films About the Immigrant Experience Wes Anderson's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best Solve the daily Crossword
