'Ramayana' to be released internationally two days ahead of Indian theatrical release

The much-anticipated “Ramayana”, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, will be released internationally two days before its theatrical release in India, as confirmed by producer Namit Malhotra. While the film will be released internationally on November 6th, India will have to wait until November 8th.

Malhotra spoke about the release schedule during a talk about his two-part adaptation, and it has gained considerable attention since the announcement, with many people commenting on the unusual strategy for a major Indian production built around one of the country's most widely known epics.

According to Malhotra, the two-day gap is intentional and is part of the film’s international rollout. The overseas release will allow “Ramayana” to reach global audiences before its home-market opening, potentially allowing the makers to build momentum and international word-of-mouth ahead of its Indian release.

Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Sunny Deol as Hanuman, this Nitesh Tiwari film is being mounted on an expansive scale, with the makers aiming to present the ancient epic as a global spectacle.

Malhotra, who is producing the project, has previously spoken about his intention to take Indian stories to audiences across the world. Ramayana is being positioned not merely as another mythological adaptation but as a large-scale cinematic event designed for international audiences.

The decision to open overseas before India could therefore be significant for the film’s global positioning. With international markets increasingly important to big-budget Indian releases, the early overseas premiere could help establish the film beyond the domestic market before its Indian theatrical opening.

The November release will also place “Ramayana” among the year’s most closely watched Indian films. With its combination of a celebrated epic, a high-profile cast, Nitesh Tiwari’s direction and a reportedly massive production scale, expectations surrounding the project are already substantial.

For now, international audiences will get the first theatrical glimpse of the film on November 6, with Indian viewers following two days later on November 8.