Namit Malhotra delays Ramayana Part 2 to 2028

Producer prioritizes quality for the grand finale

Malhotra told E! News that he wants more time to ensure the finale receives the same production quality as the first film.

Malhotra and director Nitesh Tiwari prefer to produce a single version for the second part. The team might revisit the script following the reception of the first film.

Nitesh Tiwari directs the star-studded mythological epic

Nitesh Tiwari directs the film, and Namit Malhotra serves as producer. The cast includes Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi, with music by AR Rahman and visual effects by DNEG.

Malhotra owns the visual effects company working on the film, which could lower some production costs. The production was originally conceived as a three-part story before being reduced to two films.

The team created two master versions of the film, including an English-language version for international audiences.

Analysts project massive opening day collections

Trade experts predict the film will earn over Rs 100 crore in India on its opening day. Ramesh Bala estimates a gross of Rs 125 crore. Akshaye Rathi projects a nationwide opening gross of more than Rs 100 crore. Komal Nahta expects Rs 60 crore for the Hindi version and Rs 100 crore total across all languages.

Rathi identifies the potential for the film to become the highest-grossing Indian production worldwide. Bala projects total theatrical earnings between Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 1,500 crore, stating it will "certainly do some Rs 1,000 crores" with positive audience reactions. Nahta projects domestic collections could reach Rs 1,500 crore, Rs 1,600 crore, or Rs 1,700 crore.

Nahta declines to provide a definitive box office projection before the movie releases. Trade consensus suggests the film may not surpass the opening performance of Dhurandhar 2. However, it could still become one of the biggest box-office successes in Indian cinema if word of mouth remains positive. The project has a reported budget of Rs 4,000 crore, which trade experts suggest may cover both parts of the series.

Experts weigh the film's potential to outperform Dhurandhar 2

Trade expert Ramesh Bala believes Ramayana could surpass the lifetime collections of Dhurandhar 2, which earned Rs 102.55 crore on its opening day. Bala cites the film's story, production quality, music, and cast for this potential. He says the film has the capacity to recover its budget.

Komal Nahta expresses confidence that the film will generate substantial profits. Akshaye Rathi adds that the project may open doors for Indian cinema globally beyond its box-office numbers.

Trade experts debate prospects in the Chinese market

Trade experts hold differing views on the film's prospects in China. Ramesh Bala says he is not upbeat about the Chinese market at this time.

Akshaye Rathi expresses optimism for a strong performance in China if the film receives appropriate marketing and appeal. Komal Nahta says he is hopeful the Chinese audience will embrace the film, noting the prior success of women-centric Indian stories such as Dangal and Bajrangi Bhaijaan in the country.

Los Angeles premiere yields mixed reviews

Three trade experts agree the film holds a unique advantage because Indian mythological epics have rarely appeared on the big screen. Ramesh Bala notes that the film will benefit from premium formats like IMAX and maintains strong appeal in the northern states of the Hindi belt.

High IMAX ticket prices spark industry debate

IMAX ticket prices for the film range from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000, creating debate among industry members. Ramesh Bala says he expects the makers to benefit from the high prices in the short term, but he anticipates that costs will decrease after the opening week.

Komal Nahta supports the high ticket pricing strategy because of the heavy investment in the film. Nahta suggests that viewers who cannot afford the IMAX tickets should wait or watch the film in non-IMAX formats. Bala notes that non-theatrical revenue, including satellite and OTT rights, as well as repeat viewings, will be important for the profitability of the film.