The second instalment of Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana may not arrive in Diwali 2027 after all. Producer Namit Malhotra is considering moving Ramayana 2 to Diwali 2028, a shift that would give the production more room for the remaining shoot and the film’s principal war sequences.
For Hindi cinema, a Diwali slot is more than a calendar convenience. It is one of the few windows where a large-scale event film can hold screens, sustain premium pricing and build word of mouth across the festive period. A one-year delay for a concluding chapter is therefore a commercial decision as much as a creative one.
A longer gap between two epics
The two chapters were originally expected to arrive about a year apart. A move to Diwali 2028 would stretch that distance closer to two years, because the first film, Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, is already set for a theatrical release on November 5.
The possible postponement was reported by Bollywood Hungama and has not been confirmed by the makers. According to the report, additional filming and the scale of the second part’s war sequences are driving the discussions. A source close to Bollywood Hungama said, Ramayana is an emotion for Namit Malhotra
, and added that the second instalment needs more shooting time.
The reasoning is tied to the adaptation’s architecture. As the same source put it, the real scale of the story sits in the second part, where the war unfolds. A Diwali 2028 slot may be the trade-off for protecting that scale.
Part one is on track
While the sequel is being reconsidered, the first chapter is moving toward its release. The film will open in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi plays Sita, Yash plays Ravana, Sunny Deol appears as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey plays Lakshman.
Prime Focus Studios co-produces the project with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. Namit Malhotra is the producer, with Yash also attached as a producer.
Advance bookings gather pace
The first film’s advance sales are moving even as the franchise’s second half remains unsettled. Trade tracker Sacnilk recorded these figures for October 23, 11:42 am:
- 1.47 lakh tickets sold across 3,964 shows
- Rs 8.27 crore gross including blocked seats; Rs 6.25 crore excluding them
- Total gross up 52% from Rs 5.44 crore in the first 24 hours
- Blocked seats accounted for about 24% of gross, down from 34%
- Average sales per show rose from 26 to 37 tickets
Premium large-screen formats such as IMAX and 4DX are leading early interest. By Thursday night, advance bookings had crossed 50,000 tickets across chains such as PVR INOX and Cinepolis. No tracked screening had sold out, leaving ticket inventory available as exhibitors finalise schedules.
For scale, Dhurandhar: The Revenge sold more than 9.50 lakh opening-day advance tickets across 17,000-plus shows before its release. Ramayana’s show count remained lower, leaving room for more screenings.
Trade benchmarks suggest that more than 3.5 lakh opening-day tickets across the top three national chains would mark a strong pre-Diwali start; five lakh is the higher target. The India nett opening is being discussed at Rs 70 crore, with Rs 60 crore cited as a possible foundation. Paid previews on November 4 are expected to add early momentum before the November 5 release.
What to watch next
For now, the Diwali 2028 plan is a report rather than an announcement. The first film’s opening week will test audience appetite for this version of the epic and give the production a clearer read on how long it can afford to wait before bringing the war to screens.
Source: India Today
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