The much-awaited film Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, has finally arrived in cinemas on November 5, 2026. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the mythological drama has generated considerable excitement among audiences ahead of its release. With strong advance bookings and a major Diwali release, the film is expected to record one of the biggest opening days in Indian cinema.
The film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, while Yash plays Ravana. Sai Pallavi is also part of the main cast. The project is produced by Namit Malhotra and has attracted attention because of its large scale, star cast and reported production budget.
Strong Advance Bookings Raise Expectations
Before its theatrical release, Ramayana reportedly recorded advance bookings worth more than ₹130 crore worldwide. These early sales created high expectations for its opening-day performance.
The film has also been positioned as one of the most expensive Indian productions. However, estimates of its reported budget vary. Some reports have placed the production cost at around ₹1,600 crore, while other estimates have suggested a figure exceeding ₹4,000 crore. The final verified budget has not been officially established.
The scale of the project and its international ambitions have made its box office performance an important talking point in the film industry.
Day 1 Box Office Collection
Early estimates indicate that Ramayana has received a strong response across several Indian markets.
According to figures attributed to box office tracker Sacnilk, the film had collected approximately ₹40.97 crore in India net collections and ₹48.34 crore in gross collections at an earlier reporting stage on its opening day.
Another live box office update reported an India net collection of approximately ₹54.95 crore by the afternoon. The Hindi version contributed around ₹20.95 crore to that estimate, while the Kannada version collected approximately ₹3.45 crore.
These figures are provisional and come from different tracking updates. Final collections may change as more theatres report their numbers and evening shows are completed.
The Hindi version has emerged as a major contributor to the film’s opening-day performance. The Telugu version has also shown a positive start, while Tamil and Malayalam versions have added to its overall collections.
Can Ramayana Cross the ₹100 Crore Mark?
Trade expectations surrounding the film remain high. Based on its advance bookings and early audience response, some industry estimates have suggested that Ramayana could move towards an opening of ₹70 crore or more in India.
There are also expectations that the film could cross the ₹100 crore mark, depending on its performance across evening and night shows.
However, its final opening-day performance will depend on audience response, occupancy levels and word of mouth. Strong advance sales can help a film get a good start, but positive reviews and repeat audiences are important for maintaining its momentum.
Dhurandhar 2 Remains a Major Benchmark
One of the biggest challenges for Ramayana is the opening-day record set by Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge.
The film reportedly collected around ₹102.55 crore in India net collections on its opening day, with an India gross collection of approximately ₹172.63 crore.
Other major opening-day benchmarks include Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan, which collected around ₹75 crore, and Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal, which opened at approximately ₹63 crore in India.
If Ramayana manages to cross these figures, it could enter the list of the biggest Bollywood opening-day releases.
International Market and China Expectations
The film’s performance outside India will also be important. Its large production scale has created expectations for a strong international box office run.
China is one of the markets attracting particular attention because Nitesh Tiwari’s earlier film Dangal achieved significant success there. However, the performance of Dangal does not guarantee a similar response for Ramayana.
The film will need strong audience interest, favourable reviews and effective international distribution to build a successful overseas run.
What Happens Next?
The opening day has given Ramayana: Rise of a Legend a promising start, but its long-term box office performance will become clearer over the Diwali weekend.
The response from family audiences, positive word of mouth and weekend ticket sales will play an important role in deciding whether the film can reach its ambitious box office targets.
With Ranbir Kapoor and Yash leading the cast, the film has already become one of the biggest theatrical talking points of the year. Its next few days at the box office will show whether it can turn the excitement surrounding its release into a historic commercial success.
