Ramayana's global box-office roar: Rs 17 crore in India, nearing $3 million overseas

Ramayana: Part 1 has crossed Rs 17 crore in Indian advance bookings as overseas pre-sales near $3 million. The figures underline international momentum despite a delayed domestic rollout caused by a revenue-sharing dispute.

In Short

• Ramayana: Part 1 advance bookings in India cross Rs 17 crore
• Overseas pre-sales near $3 million, led by North America
• Domestic booking delay due to distributor-exhibitor revenue dispute

Director Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: Part 1, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash, is witnessing a steady rise in advance bookings, with its India pre-sales crossing Rs 17 crore and overseas collections nearing the $3-million mark, six days ahead of its November 5 release. Despite a restricted booking rollout in India over the past few days, Nitesh Tiwari's epic has built considerable momentum in international markets, led by North America.

Starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, the film has recorded Rs 17.14 crore in India advance bookings as of 11 am on October 30, according to trade website Sacnilk. The figure stands at Rs 14.29 crore after excluding blocked seats. A total of 3.34 lakh tickets have been sold across the country, with the count dropping to 2.75 lakh without blocked seats. The film added Rs 7.25 lakh in advance sales between 6 am and 11 am.

Overseas bookings are also approaching a significant milestone, with international pre-sales nearing $3 million (Rs 28 crore approximately). North America continues to account for the biggest share, contributing close to $1.9 million. The UK and Ireland have added around $268,000, while Australia and New Zealand have recorded approximately $248,000. Paid previews scheduled for November 4 have further contributed to the North American momentum.

India bookings pick up after distribution deadlock

The domestic advance booking rollout had been delayed by a disagreement between the film's distributors and exhibitors over revenue-sharing terms. The dispute centred on the share of box-office collections that distributors would receive during the opening weeks.

As per a Sacnilk report, distributors had reportedly proposed two options. The first involved a three-week revenue-sharing structure, with 60 per cent going to the distributor in Week 1, 50 per cent in Week 2 and 40 per cent in Week 3. The second proposal sought a flat 55 per cent share for the first 11 consecutive days, after which the standard industry slabs would apply.

The makers' camp reportedly argued that the scale of the project justified better revenue-sharing terms. With the combined budget of the two parts estimated at around Rs 4,000 crore, the team was keen to secure a larger share of the theatrical earnings during the crucial opening period.

Exhibitors, however, raised concerns about operating costs and the risks of allocating a large number of screens to one film while agreeing to higher distributor shares. There were also concerns that such demands could set a precedent for future big-ticket releases.

The commercial deadlock has reportedly eased, with bookings opening at cinemas where distribution terms have been finalised. More theatres are expected to open advance bookings as agreements are reached, with the remaining listings expected to follow by 7 pm on October 30.

North America leads overseas advance sales

North America remains the biggest overseas market for Ramayana: Part 1, accounting for nearly three-fourths of its international advance bookings. The region's contribution is close to $1.9 million, while the UK and Ireland have generated around $268,000. Australia and New Zealand follow with approximately $248,000, with other markets contributing the remaining share.

With six days left before the theatrical release, the expansion of domestic listings could give India advance sales another boost. Hindi markets are currently leading ticket sales, while bookings for the Kannada and Telugu versions are also gaining ground. Tamil and Malayalam listings are expected to expand as the rollout progresses.

All about Ramayana

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana: Part 1 features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The ensemble cast includes Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, Arun Govil as King Dasharatha, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, Indira Krishnan as Kaushalya, Kajal Aggarwal as Mandodari, Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha, Vivek Oberoi as Vidyutjihva, Shobana as Kaikasi, Sheeba Chaddha as Manthara, Saurabh Sachdeva as Mareech, Kunal Kapoor as Lord Indra, Faisal Malik as Kumbhkarna and Raghav Juyal as Meghnad, also known as Indrajit.

Produced by Namit Malhotra, the film features music by AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer. Ramayana: Part 1 is scheduled to release in theatres on November 5, 2026.

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