The Ramayana needs little introduction—thanks to Ramanand Sagar's 1980s TV epic and the renewed popularity during the 2020 lockdown, millions know the saga by heart. Yet it's producer-turned-visionary Namit Malhotra who dared to reimagine it on the silver screen at a scale rivaling Avatar and Lord of the Rings.
From Humble Garage to Global VFX Powerhouse
Family Roots
Born in Mumbai in 1976, Namit is the grandson of legendary cinematographer M.N. Malhotra (India's first color film, Jhansi Ki Rani, 1953) and son of producer Naresh Malhotra.
Early Days
In 1995, armed with one Apple Mac and three college friends, he launched Video Workshop—the seed that grew into Prime Focus, now a leading media-services company.
D-Neg Merger
In 2014, Namit merged Prime Focus World with Double Negative to create DNEG, the Oscar-winning VFX studio behind Inception, Interstellar, Blade Runner 2049, and Dune Part 2.
Production Timeline & Budget
Malhotra's dream to showcase India's cultural heritage begins
Principal photography starts after years of pre-production
Completion of filming for the first installment
Diwali 2026
Villagers' exile and Sita's abduction
Diwali 2027
The great war of Ram vs. Ravana
Star Power & Creative Team
Director: Nitesh Tiwari
First Indian director to cross ₹2,000 crore at the box office
Music
Hans Zimmer (Background Score)
A.R. Rahman (Songs)
Action
Terry Notary (Avengers)
Guy Norris (Mad Max: Fury Road)
Casting Notes & Rumors
Other Considered Actors
Many roles had other front-runners—Mahesh Babu and Ram Charan were considered for Ram, Hrithik Roshan for Ravana, Alia Bhatt for Sita, and Priyanka Chopra for Shurpanakha.
Rumored Additions
Possible cast additions include Anil Kapoor (Janak), Mohit Raina (Shiva), Vikrant Massey (Meghnath), Ramya Krishnan (Kaushalya), and Vijay Sethupathi (Vibhishan).
Technical Innovations
D-Neg's Latest Technology
Showcased in the viral teaser with unprecedented detail
AI-Driven Lip-Sync
For seamless multi-language releases
IMAX Presentation
Premium large-screen experience
The Countdown Begins
Until the epic journey begins on Diwali 2026
