November 13: Ramayana: Part One, the Ranbir Kapoor film that opened in cinemas worldwide on November 5, will be offered on JioHotstar as a pay-per-view title once its run in theatres is over. Producer Prime Focus Studios has announced the tie-up with the streaming service, but neither side has given a date or a price yet. Until then, the film can be seen only on the big screen.
Key highlights
- In cinemas: since November 5, 2026, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English.
- At home: a pay-per-view digital release on JioHotstar after the film’s “exclusive theatrical window”.
- Not yet known: the digital release date, the price and the length of the theatrical window.
- Lead cast: Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana.
- Music: Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, working together for the first time, according to the producers.
What pay-per-view means for viewers
Most big Indian films move from cinemas to a streaming service where subscribers can watch them at no extra charge. Pay-per-view works differently: the viewer pays a separate, one-time fee to watch a single film. The producers’ statement describes the JioHotstar release in those terms and says it is meant for audiences across India.
The announcement leaves several questions open. It does not say how many weeks the film will stay exclusive to cinemas, what the fee will be, or whether a JioHotstar subscription will also be needed.
Producer Namit Malhotra made clear where he wants people to see it first. He said the film “should be experienced on the biggest screen possible, in IMAX 3D”. Nita M. Ambani, Chairperson of JioStar, said the platform’s aim was to bring the finest stories “within reach of every Indian”.
Who plays whom
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Rama | Ranbir Kapoor |
| Sita | Sai Pallavi |
| Ravana | Yash |
| Hanuman | Sunny Deol |
| Lakshman | Ravie Dubey |
Who is behind the film
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Director | Nitesh Tiwari |
| Producer | Namit Malhotra |
| Production | Prime Focus Studios, with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations |
| Music | Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman |
| Action choreography | Terry Notary and Guy Norris |
| Production design | Ravi Bansal and Ramsey Avery |
| Distribution outside India | Sony Pictures |
| Distribution in North India’s Hindi markets | Dharma Productions |
| Pay-per-view digital release | JioHotstar |
The road to release
The film had its Los Angeles premiere on October 27 at the David Geffen Theatre in the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, where Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash walked the red carpet. Tiwari and Malhotra also attended. It reached cinemas worldwide nine days later, on November 5, the week of Diwali.
Ramayana is planned as a two-part epic. When the project was unveiled, Prime Focus said the second part would follow in 2027. Its latest statements describe a two-part film but do not give a date for Part Two.
A note on box-office numbers
Prime Focus Studios has not published official box-office figures for the film on its website. The numbers circulating online are estimates from trade trackers and differ from one another, so this report does not use them. We will report collections when the producers or distributors publish them.
What it means for India and Asia
A pay-per-view release for a film of this size is unusual in India. If it works, other producers may try the same route for their biggest titles, and home viewers could be asked to pay per film more often. If it does not, the familiar path from cinema to subscription streaming is likely to stay.
The film is also an export test. With Sony Pictures handling it outside India and an English version in release, its performance abroad will show how far an Indian epic can travel beyond the diaspora audience.
What to watch
- The date and price of the JioHotstar pay-per-view release.
- Any official box-office statement from the producers or Sony Pictures.
- A confirmed release date for Part Two.
Ranbir Kapoor, who plays Rama in the film, in December 2024. Image: Prime Minister’s Office, GODL-India, via Wikimedia Commons. Photo source · Licence
Sources
- Prime Focus: digital partnership with JioHotstar for Ramayana
- Prime Focus: Ramayana: Part One brings an epic story to the world
- Prime Focus: Ramayana celebrates its Los Angeles premiere
- Prime Focus: Ramayana’s journey to the world continues (distribution partners)
- Prime Focus: first unveiling of Ramayana (cast and crew)
The Entertainment Desk covers cinema from India, Asia and Hollywood: releases, box office, awards and festivals, reported from official announcements. Stories are checked against at least two credible sources before publication.
