Published 20:37 IST, November 6th 2024
Meet Namit Malhotra, Ramayana Producer Who Is Investing Over ₹800 Crore In India's Biggest Film
Ramayana producer Namit Malhotra founded Prime Focus Limited, which is now the largest independent integrated media services company in the world.
Ramayana: Nitesh Tiwari’s mythological drama is being hailed as one of the largest Bollywood films of all time. Ranbir Kapoor leads the cast and is set to portray the role of Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Lord Sita. The makers revealed the release date along with the first poster on November 5. The film will be released in two parts, with Part 1 scheduled for Diwali 2026 and Part 2 for Diwali 2027. Given the scale of the epic, the producer has spared no expense, making it the most costly film ever produced in India.
Who is Ramayana Producer Namit Malhotra?
Namit Malhotra is an Indian film and television producer, as well as a business executive. He is the eldest son of Bollywood producer Naresh Malhotra and the grandson of cinematographer M. N. Malhotra, who worked on one of India's first colour films, Jhansi Ki Rani (1953).
He founded Prime Focus Limited, India's leading visual and special effects company, which is now the largest independent integrated media services company in the world. Additionally, he serves as the CEO of DNEG, the British-Indian subsidiary of Prime Focus, known for its expertise in visual effects, animation, and stereo conversion.
Namit has produced Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva and worked as an Executive Producer on projects like Those About To Die, Rally Road Racers, Horizon Line, The Hurricane Heist, and The Sickhouse.
He is also the Global CEO of DNEG and the founder and non-executive director of its parent company, Prime Focus Limited. DNEG has won seven Academy Awards for 'Best Visual Effects', thanks to its work on films such as Dune: Part One, Tenet, First Man, Blade Runner 2049, Ex Machina, Interstellar, and Inception. Namit is also currently producing the upcoming Hollywood animated feature, The Garfield Movie.
How much did Namit Malhotra invest in Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi’s Ramayana?
Ramayana isn't just built around a large and ambitious cast. It's also one of the most expensive films in Indian cinema, with a reported budget of ₹835 crore, according to Bollywood Hungama.
A source shared with Bollywood Hungama, "Ramayana is more than just a film; it's an emotion. The makers are sparing no effort to turn it into a global spectacle. The budget of USD 100 million (₹835 crore) is allocated solely for Ramayana: Part One. As the franchise expands, Namit Malhotra plans to increase the budget further. The aim is to offer a visual feast with Ranbir Kapoor portraying Lord Ram." Most of the budget will be dedicated to CGI and post-production, with the film expected to be in post-production for 600 days.
Updated 20:37 IST, November 6th 2024