“Where you start can never define how far you can go.”
That was Yash speaking to the audience on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, as the cast and crew of Ramayana gathered for a world premiere at the David Geffen Theatre inside the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, kicking off the global rollout of one of the most ambitious Indian productions ever.
A Star-Studded Premiere in Los Angeles
Led by stars Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi, who portray Ram and Sita respectively, the gala marked a major milestone ahead of the film’s upcoming theatrical launch. Director Nitesh Tiwari joined the lead ensemble on the red carpet, alongside actor-producer Yash, who takes on the role of Ravana.
Housefull start for #Ramayana at LA Premiere. The premiere to start soon. #RanbirKapoor , #Yash , #NiteshTiwari, #NamitMalhotra & #SaiPallavi are present at the World premiere of #Ramayana. The film releases theatrically in India, next week November 5th. pic.twitter.com/B9i0vIMx4N
The star-studded cast also features Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, alongside Sunny Deol, Anupam Kher, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor, Adinath Kothare, Arun Govil, Indira Krishnan, and Lara Dutta.
An Epic Budget and Heavyweight Collaboration
Produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios alongside his company DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations, the two-part cinematic epic is reportedly backed by a combined budget of over Rs 4,000 crore for both the parts.
Malhotra emphasized that the US premiere was designed to build both widespread curiosity and international credibility for a production merging top-tier Indian and Western creative forces.
Global Ambitions for a Timeless Tale
“I think it’s the ultimate moment for Indian cinema overall. In over a hundred years of Indian cinema, it’s one thing to say that there’s a screening and the other is to say that there’s a whole city in the US, which has Ramayana hoardings all over,” Malhotra noted.
Yash reflected on the deep cultural roots of the narrative and its journey through generations.
Reaching Generations Across the Globe
“Today, I am proud of being a member of the Kannada film industry, telling our story, which is not just a story. In our country, we just don’t tell the story, we remember it, and we pass it down for generations to come and this story has travelled for thousands of years,” Yash said.
Theatrical Rollout and Worldwide Distribution
The first part of Ramayana is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on November 5, 2026, while the second part is expected to arrive during Diwali 2027.
The film will be released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, with an IMAX release also planned. International distribution outside India is managed by Sony Pictures, with Dharma Productions handling distribution in the Hindi-speaking market.
