Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana: Part 1 arrives in theatres tomorrow, November 5, and the advance booking numbers suggest a monster opening. The Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi film has crossed the Rs 100 crore mark in worldwide pre-sales for its opening weekend, according to trade tracking data cited by multiple outlets, with India alone contributing around Rs 76 crore gross and overseas markets adding more than Rs 40 crore.
Just two days ago, the film's early pre-sales were in the Rs 20-crore range. The jump since then shows how quickly demand has built up in the final stretch before release.
How big is Ramayana's advance booking?
Figures from trade portal Sacnilk, as reported on November 3, put the film's India gross advance for its extended opening weekend at roughly Rs 75–76 crore including blocked seats, and about Rs 60–62 crore without them. Around 19 lakh tickets had been sold across more than 60,000 shows.
The Hindi version is driving the bulk of the business, accounting for more than 80% of Indian pre-sales. The dubbed versions are also contributing, with Kannada and Telugu leading the southern markets – no surprise given Yash's huge fan base in Karnataka and the film's pan-India push.
Ramayana: Part 1 advance booking – key numbers
| Release date | November 5, 2026 |
| Worldwide pre-sales (opening weekend) | Over Rs 100 crore |
| India gross advance (incl. blocked seats) | About Rs 76 crore |
| Overseas advance | Over Rs 40 crore |
| Tickets sold in India | Around 19 lakh |
| Hindi share of India pre-sales | Over 80% |
| North America | Paid previews on November 4 |
| Data source | Sacnilk, as reported by trade and media outlets |
Bigger than Animal, Jawan and Pathaan?
Comparisons with recent blockbusters are inevitable. Ranbir Kapoor's 2023 hit Animal finished its entire advance run at about Rs 29.25 crore in Hindi markets. Ramayana has already crossed that comfortably, with Hindi-market advance net reported at around Rs 46 crore two days before release.
On BookMyShow, the film had sold more than four lakh tickets at last count – a sharp contrast to the roughly 95,000 tickets Animal had sold at a similar stage. Reports also say the film's early demand has surpassed the advance benchmarks set by Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan and Pathaan, though final comparisons will only be possible after the first-day numbers come in.
Opening day predictions
Trade estimates for the film's India net opening vary widely, from about Rs 50 crore to more than Rs 80 crore. Opening-day bookings alone were reported above Rs 32 crore gross, with strong numbers for the following days too.
Overseas, the film is expected to open big as well. North American paid previews are being held on November 4, and reports suggest the overseas opening could cross $20 million if the current trend holds. The UK and Australia are also among the strong markets.
About the film
Ramayana is one of the most ambitious projects in Indian cinema. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, the two-part adaptation of the epic stars Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The music is by Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman, and visual effects are handled by DNEG.
The combined budget of both parts has been reported at around Rs 4,000 crore, making it by far the most expensive Indian film project. Reports say the film has received a U certificate and runs a little over three hours.
What it means for the box office
A Diwali-season release, a mythological story with universal appeal, a pan-India cast and record pre-sales – the stars seem aligned for Ramayana. If the opening matches the advance booking trend, it could set new records for a Hindi film's opening day and weekend. The real test, though, will be word of mouth. With a runtime of over three hours and enormous expectations, audience reaction on day one will decide whether the film can sustain its momentum through the long festive window.
For theatre owners, the film is also a big boost at a time when they are counting on event films to bring families back to cinemas in large numbers.
What happens next
- Early shows begin across India on November 5.
- Official first-day collection figures from the makers and trade trackers are expected on November 6.
- The second part of the saga is still to come, and its release plans will be watched closely after Part 1's run.
Planning to watch it this weekend? With lakhs of tickets already sold, booking early for evening shows is a good idea, especially in metros.
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