Producer Namit Malhotra Unveils Ramayana at Los Angeles Premiere Ahead of November Release

The ambitious two-part cinematic adaptation of the Indian epic Ramayana held its Los Angeles premiere at the David Geffen Theater inside the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Producer Namit Malhotra addressed the gathering, describing the high-profile screening as his career-defining Oscar moment.

The Journey to Hollywood

Malhotra detailed his path from starting a post-production company as a 19-year-old with an Apple computer alongside three teachers named Merzin, Prakash and Josefa to leading international visual effects work. His company DNEG has won eight Academy Awards, including seven over the past 11 years, working with directors such as Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve. He recalled moving to Los Angeles in 2007 to bridge Indian and global film industries, overcoming a 90 percent loss of wealth during the 2008 financial crisis.

Cast and Crew

During the event, Malhotra introduced director Nitesh Tiwari and the primary cast members on stage. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi stars as Sita, and Yash portrays Ravana. The ensemble also features Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. The production brings together international and local talent, including composer Hans Zimmer and choreographer Terry Notary.

Release Details

Part 1 of the film is scheduled to hit theaters on November 5, 2026, followed by Part 2 during Diwali in 2027. The movie will release in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, with international distribution managed by Sony Pictures.

Context

Big-budget Indian films are increasingly looking at Western markets and global talent to expand their reach beyond traditional audiences. Visual effects studios like DNEG often handle major Hollywood franchises while also supporting massive domestic productions.