Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Aug 16: Actor and Ramayana co-producer Yash has clarified the much-discussed Rs 4,000-crore budget of Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming two-part epic, saying the figure covers both films as well as their worldwide release and promotional expenses.
The clarification comes after producer Namit Malhotra's earlier statement that the Ramayana project has a budget of $500 million, approximately Rs 4,000 crore, making it one of the most expensive Indian film projects ever announced. The figure had triggered both excitement and scepticism, with some trade observers questioning whether such a massive investment could be recovered at the box office.
Appearing on Aap Ki Adalat with host Rajat Sharma, Yash explained that the Rs 4,000 crore figure does not represent the production cost of Ramayana Part One alone.
Yash said the amount covers the two-part film, including its release and marketing. He explained that the calculation follows what he described as the Hollywood model, where substantial amounts are spent on global promotion because the films are released across international markets.
According to Yash, the revenue potential is also global, making the investment in worldwide marketing necessary to position the film for audiences beyond India.
He also stressed the larger ambition behind the project, saying Indian cinema needs to establish itself as a global force. He described cinema as a form of soft power and said filmmakers must make sustained efforts to take Indian stories and productions to international audiences.
Yash said Ramayana and his other upcoming film Toxic are both attempts to position Indian cinema as global cinema. He added that even if such efforts do not achieve their full potential immediately, filmmakers need to continue working towards that goal.
In Ramayana, Yash plays Ravana, while Ranbir Kapoor portrays Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi plays Sita. Yash is also serving as a co-producer alongside Namit Malhotra.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film features a large ensemble cast, including Ravie Dubey, Sunny Deol, Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi and Kunal Kapoor.
Ramayana Part One is scheduled for a worldwide release on November 6, ahead of Diwali.
Before Ramayana, Yash will appear in Geetu Mohandas' Toxic, a gangster drama featuring Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth and Huma Qureshi. The film is scheduled to release on August 26.
Yash's clarification is expected to ease some of the confusion surrounding the Rs 4,000-crore figure, which he emphasised should be viewed as the overall investment for the two-part project, including its global release and promotional campaign, rather than the production budget of the first instalment alone.