'Ramayana' Breaks Pre-Diwali Advance-Booking Record With Rs. 25 Crore-Plus

Namit Malhotra's “Ramayana,” starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi, crossed Rs. 25 crore in advance ticket sales ahead of its November 5 release, defying the belief that the pre-Diwali period is unfavorable for big releases.

PVR INOX executive Kamal Gianchandani said on November 3 that the film is on course to record the biggest pre-Diwali advance bookings in PVR INOX's 30-plus-year history, with two more days of sales still to go.

The pre-Diwali window has traditionally been considered soft for major releases, as audiences hold back spending ahead of the festival. “Ramayana” appears to be breaking that pattern outright, with advance sales building day by day rather than stalling.

The film adapts one of India's great epics on a scale rarely attempted in Indian cinema, with Kapoor as Rama, Yash as Ravana and Sai Pallavi as Sita. Its budget, visual effects and two-part structure have made it one of the most anticipated Indian releases in years.

Whether the opening matches the advance-bookings hype will be known within days of release. For now, exhibitors say the numbers point to a historic opening — and a possible rewrite of the rules about when a blockbuster can launch.