‘Ramayana’ Takes Its Global Ambition to Los Angeles as Namit Malhotra Calls Premiere His “Oscar Moment”
The upcoming Ramayana brought its vision to an international audience with a Los Angeles premiere at the David Geffen Theater inside the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. For producer Namit Malhotra, the event was more than a showcase for a major Indian film: it marked a personal milestone shaped by decades of work in visual effects, filmmaking and international collaboration.
Addressing guests at the screening, Malhotra reflected on the unlikely path from a small post-production startup to producing a large-scale adaptation of one of India’s most enduring epics. He described the evening as a defining moment in his career, telling the audience, “I wanted to host this evening at the Academy Theatre because this is my Oscar moment.”
From a Garage Startup to a Global Production
Malhotra’s remarks linked the film’s scale to the modest beginnings of his career. He recalled starting a post-production company at 19 with an Apple computer and a small team that included former teachers. That early venture grew into a career spanning visual effects and filmmaking, eventually connecting Indian projects with international production expertise.
“For a third generation film family background, garage startup kid at 19 with an Apple computer working with three of his teachers who are all of 21, Merzin, Prakash and Josefa, this is what dreams are made of,” he said. He added that Los Angeles—often called the City of Angels—was an especially meaningful place to share the achievement.
His professional connection to the city dates back to 2007, when he moved to Los Angeles as part of an effort to build a company capable of working across the film industries of India and the West. “In my pursuit of building a global company and connecting the east and the west I set foot in LA in 2007 and haven’t looked back since,” he said.
Lessons from the 2008 Financial Crisis
The journey was not without setbacks. Malhotra recalled losing much of his wealth during the 2008 financial crisis, a difficult period that tested the business he was building. Looking back, he described the experience as a sharp contrast to standing at the premiere of what he called the world’s biggest independent production.
“An immigrant who lost 90% of his wealth with the fun times in 2008 as I’m sure some of you may remember to bounce back today and being able to bring the biggest independent production in the world the Ramayana, I can’t even tell you what it feels like to stand here today,” he said. The reflection gave the event a personal dimension, presenting the film not only as an ambitious creative undertaking but also as the culmination of a long and uncertain business journey.
Introducing the ‘Ramayana’ Cast and Creative Team
Malhotra welcomed director Nitesh Tiwari and the film’s principal cast to the stage. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, while Sai Pallavi takes on the role of Sita. Emphasising the central relationship at the heart of the epic, Malhotra said, “As you all can see Ram without Sita does not work. So please welcome Sai Pallavi.”
Yash, who portrays Ravana, was introduced as the figure whose conflict with Rama drives the story. Malhotra called him “the rocking star Yash” and noted that the confrontation between the characters forms a vital part of the film’s dramatic foundation.
The announced cast also includes Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. Together, the performers bring familiar figures from the epic to a new screen adaptation, with the production aiming to reach audiences across generations and regions.
Malhotra also acknowledged the international and Indian artists contributing behind the scenes, including composer Hans Zimmer and choreographer Terry Notary. Their involvement reflects the production’s effort to combine expertise from different film industries while remaining rooted in an Indian story.
A Bollywood Epic Designed for a Worldwide Audience
At the centre of Malhotra’s presentation was the idea of collaboration. He described Ramayana as a meeting point for Indian and Western talent, with the aim of creating a motion picture that could resonate with audiences far beyond its home market.
“I stand here to showcase the best of India and the best of the west working together to create a motion picture that means more to billions of people around the world than you all can imagine,” he said. That international outlook is reflected in the film’s production partnerships and planned multilingual release, while its subject remains deeply connected to Indian cultural and literary traditions.
The project is being produced by Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios in collaboration with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. DNEG, the visual-effects company associated with Malhotra, has received eight Academy Awards, including seven in the past 11 years. Its work with filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve has helped establish the company as a major force in global visual effects.
For a story as widely known and visually expansive as the Ramayana, effects work will be an important part of translating its settings, characters and large-scale conflicts to the screen. The production’s international reach may also help introduce the epic to viewers unfamiliar with its many versions and cultural interpretations.
Oversubscribed Premiere Signals Strong Interest
The Los Angeles screening reportedly attracted a large gathering of guests. The main venue, the 945-seat David Geffen Theater, was described by the makers as oversubscribed, prompting the team to arrange an additional screening space. The response offered an early indication of interest in the project among industry guests and members of the international film community.
Malhotra thanked his family, collaborators, financial backers and the Sony Pictures team for supporting the production. Sony Pictures is handling international distribution, a role expected to be central to the film’s planned global rollout.
Release Plans for the Two-Part Film
Ramayana is planned as a two-part film. Part 1 is scheduled to arrive on November 5, 2026, with Part 2 set for Diwali 2027. The films are planned for release in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, giving audiences across several major Indian-language markets the opportunity to experience the story in their preferred language.
With a high-profile cast, an internationally assembled creative team and a release strategy aimed at audiences in India and overseas, the project is positioning itself as one of the most ambitious upcoming titles in Bollywood. Its eventual success will depend not only on scale and spectacle, but also on how effectively it brings familiar characters and themes to life for contemporary viewers.
For Malhotra, the Los Angeles premiere marked a moment where personal history and cinematic ambition met. His speech traced a path from a teenage startup to an international production, while presenting Ramayana as a collaboration intended to carry an Indian epic to audiences around the world.
