Just when the trailer felt locked in for July 24, Ramayana has hit another delay.
Ramayana trailer postponed again as Sony Pictures signs on as international distributor. Fresh budget details put the combined cost near Rs 3,000 crore.
Ramayana Trailer Postponed: What Was Actually Announced
Prime Focus Studios confirmed the partnership on July 24, with producer Namit Malhotra sharing the news through a detailed personal note on social media.
He described it as a defining moment for the project, framing the Sony deal as the realisation of his ambition to take Ramayana to a global audience.
Namit also confirmed the trailer will now launch worldwide at a later date rather than on the previously planned schedule.
Malhotra called it a moment of pride for Indian cinema, positioning Ramayana as a film that will now be shown to the world the way major Hollywood tentpoles are, with the trailer relaunch designed to match that global rollout rather than stick to the original date.
Ramayana Sony Pictures Deal: The Numbers Behind The Deal
Fresh details have emerged alongside the Sony announcement, giving the clearest picture yet of just how much this project actually costs.
According to industry sources, Ramayana carries a production cost of around Rs 1,000-1,100 crore.
Since Part 1 and Part 2 were shot together, some of that cost is shared and split between the two films, meaning the exact number for each part could land a bit above or below that range.
The Sony deal itself is structured as a free-of-cost arrangement rather than a straightforward upfront payment to the producers.
Instead of paying for distribution rights directly, Sony is investing in marketing the film, reportedly committing USD 25 million (around Rs 235 crore) toward the campaign, with the production itself contributing another USD 15 million (around Rs 140 crore).
That brings the total marketing spend to roughly USD 40 million, or approximately Rs 375 crore, a figure that’s virtually unprecedented for an Indian film.
Add production and marketing together, and Ramayana Part 1 alone is estimated to cost somewhere between Rs 1,400-1,500 crore to produce and release.
With Part 2 expected to carry similar costs, the combined budget for the full saga is edging close to Rs 3,000 crore, a scale with genuinely no real precedent in Indian cinema.
The Release Date Is Still Being Finalised Too
Ramayana Part 1 remains lined up for a Diwali 2026 release, though the festival itself falls on November 8. Two specific dates are reportedly under consideration: October 30 and November 6.
Ramayana’s journey from Bharat to the World has begun. 🏹
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.Reposted from @malhotra_namit
— The World Of Ramayana (@WorldOfRamayana) July 24, 2026
The earlier date is believed to be the preferred option specifically to lock in an IMAX release window, since Godzilla Minus Zero is set to occupy IMAX screens starting November 6. An official announcement on the exact date is expected soon.
Why This Deal Is A Genuinely Big Deal
Indian films rarely land major studio-backed international distribution on this scale.
Sony Pictures coming on board means Ramayana will get access to global marketing infrastructure and theatrical reach that Indian mythological epics almost never receive, releasing internationally in multiple languages including a premium English version.
That’s a meaningfully different distribution strategy than the usual overseas rollout through Indian diaspora-focused circuits.
Malhotra, who also serves as Global CEO of Oscar-winning VFX studio DNEG, framed the partnership as a natural extension of decades spent helping filmmakers realise ambitious visions, now being applied to one of the world’s oldest epics.
The Team Behind The Scale
Ramayana continues to assemble an unusually international crew for an Indian production: music by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, action choreography by Terry Notary and Guy Norris, and production design by Ramsey Avery and Ravi Bansal.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and led by Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi, the film continues to position itself less as a domestic Diwali release and more as a genuine global cinematic event.
What This Means For The Trailer
No new date has been confirmed yet for the global trailer launch.
Given how significant this distribution announcement is, expect the eventual unveiling to be tied closely to Sony’s own marketing timeline rather than a quick standalone drop.
For a project that’s already been delayed multiple times, this particular postponement is arguably the most justified one yet, since it comes attached to one of the biggest international distribution wins an Indian film has landed in recent memory.
Lead Image: Prime Focus
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