Ramayana producer Namit Malhotra looks beyond box office for investment recovery
The producer plans to recoup the Rs 4,000-crore budget through merchandise, theme parks, and other multi-format engagements.
Producer Namit Malhotra says he is not worried about recovering the Rs 4,000-crore investment for the two-part epic Ramayana solely through box office sales, according to reports by Telegraph India and Hindustan Times. The film, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, was released in theatres on November 5.
The film has collected Rs 664 crore worldwide within five days of its release. While it opened to a decent response, it gained momentum through its opening weekend. The production features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana, alongside Ravie Dubey, Lara Dutta, and Arun Govil.
In an interview with CNN, Malhotra said he is not motivated by the logic of how much money is made or not made. He stated that if money is not made with the movies, it will be made through merchandise, theme parks, or other ways.
At a Telugu pre-release event in Hyderabad, Malhotra explained that the project was intended to be more than just a film. He noted that the intention is not to end the journey after one or two movies but to use them to open up different areas of engagement.
The planned multi-media rollout includes video games, apparel, toys, gadgets, home furnishings, television spin-offs, origin films, and animated projects. Other planned integrations include a Broadway musical, theme parks, and virtual, augmented, and metaverse realities. The second instalment is slated for a 2028 release.