Ramayana against Dune 3, The Odyssey? Producer Namit says world wants freshness
Namit Malhotra explains why Ramayana stands out in a year packed with global epics like Dune 3 and The Odyssey. The filmmaker believes the story offers something fresh for worldwide audiences.
Ramayana producer Namit Malhotra highlighted the significance of India's epic tale amidst a year crowded with grand cinematic releases like Dune Part Three and The Odyssey. Speaking at CinemaCon 2026 in Los Angeles, Malhotra said the world audience is seeking "freshness" and "excitement" in stories, qualities he believes Ramayana embodies.
Malhotra was joined by actor Yash, who plays Ravana in the film. When asked how they are presenting a modern story for 2026 audiences based on an ancient epic, Malhotra explained Ramayana's timeless appeal and how the film is designed for international viewers.
"What is interesting, and it was a perspective I actually heard from someone in America itself - it was like - 'You are bringing us the first story of the world or the first story of the universe, but it's something we don't know much about. So, it's almost like you are telling us a timeless story, but it's actually... we are going to discover it for the first time,'" he told Fadango.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, known for Dangal, Ramayana reportedly has a budget of Rs 4,000 crore. Malhotra believes the film’s scale and visual grandeur will draw global audiences and spark intrigue.
Ramayana: From beating Indian hearts to the world
He added that Ramayana is deeply rooted in Indian hearts worldwide, but emphasised that it is time the story becomes a shared global heritage.
"There's a lot of freshness and excitement towards it. Obviously, every Indian, their heart beats with this story. All of us, our parents, our grandparents, generations before us - have all learned the Ramayana, heard the Ramayana, experienced it in various different forms. It's very interesting to sort of bring something with that big screen spectacle, but with the heart that every Indian cares about to the world. That I think is very, very relevant," Malhotra explained.
Referring to other epic films like Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya's Dune: Part Three and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, Malhotra said, "With all the other epics that you just mentioned, the audiences in cinemas want to see something that is new and different. Their mindset is a lot more open to consuming different types of stories. I think we've all seen enough of the same fare. But I think now it's about what new can we bring?"
Ramayana: Avatar meets Gladiator
In a separate interview with Rotten Tomatoes, Malhotra described Ramayana as an "Avatar meets Gladiator moment," combining spectacular world-building with a compelling human story.
"I always love to give a comparison - It's like an Avatar meets Gladiator moment where you see the absolutely wonderful world of Avatar but the human story of Gladiator, where you have that emotion and that graph of how these two sorts of worlds co-exist," he said.
The makers released a glimpse of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama last month. The teaser, showcasing the film's extensive VFX work, received mixed reactions on social media.
Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as goddess Sita, and Ravie Dubey as Laxmana. The film is set for a big Diwali release this year and will be presented in two parts, with the second part scheduled for next year.
Ramayana producer Namit Malhotra highlighted the significance of India's epic tale amidst a year crowded with grand cinematic releases like Dune Part Three and The Odyssey. Speaking at CinemaCon 2026 in Los Angeles, Malhotra said the world audience is seeking "freshness" and "excitement" in stories, qualities he believes Ramayana embodies.
Malhotra was joined by actor Yash, who plays Ravana in the film. When asked how they are presenting a modern story for 2026 audiences based on an ancient epic, Malhotra explained Ramayana's timeless appeal and how the film is designed for international viewers.
"What is interesting, and it was a perspective I actually heard from someone in America itself - it was like - 'You are bringing us the first story of the world or the first story of the universe, but it's something we don't know much about. So, it's almost like you are telling us a timeless story, but it's actually... we are going to discover it for the first time,'" he told Fadango.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, known for Dangal, Ramayana reportedly has a budget of Rs 4,000 crore. Malhotra believes the film’s scale and visual grandeur will draw global audiences and spark intrigue.
Ramayana: From beating Indian hearts to the world
He added that Ramayana is deeply rooted in Indian hearts worldwide, but emphasised that it is time the story becomes a shared global heritage.
"There's a lot of freshness and excitement towards it. Obviously, every Indian, their heart beats with this story. All of us, our parents, our grandparents, generations before us - have all learned the Ramayana, heard the Ramayana, experienced it in various different forms. It's very interesting to sort of bring something with that big screen spectacle, but with the heart that every Indian cares about to the world. That I think is very, very relevant," Malhotra explained.
Referring to other epic films like Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya's Dune: Part Three and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, Malhotra said, "With all the other epics that you just mentioned, the audiences in cinemas want to see something that is new and different. Their mindset is a lot more open to consuming different types of stories. I think we've all seen enough of the same fare. But I think now it's about what new can we bring?"
Ramayana: Avatar meets Gladiator
In a separate interview with Rotten Tomatoes, Malhotra described Ramayana as an "Avatar meets Gladiator moment," combining spectacular world-building with a compelling human story.
"I always love to give a comparison - It's like an Avatar meets Gladiator moment where you see the absolutely wonderful world of Avatar but the human story of Gladiator, where you have that emotion and that graph of how these two sorts of worlds co-exist," he said.
The makers released a glimpse of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama last month. The teaser, showcasing the film's extensive VFX work, received mixed reactions on social media.
Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as goddess Sita, and Ravie Dubey as Laxmana. The film is set for a big Diwali release this year and will be presented in two parts, with the second part scheduled for next year.
