‘Ramayana: Part One’ to Debut on JioHotstar After Theatrical Release

Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part One, featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash in lead roles, will be available for individual on-demand purchase on JioHotstar in India following its theatrical release. The arrangement between JioHotstar and Prime Focus Studios marks what the companies describe as the streaming platform’s first pay-per-view offering of its kind.

Under the agreement, viewers will be able to purchase the film separately rather than access it solely through a subscription. The companies also said the film will be available in the highest quality supported by each compatible device, extending its reach beyond cinemas after its theatrical run.

The film stars Kapoor as Prince Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. Its story follows Rama and Sita during their exile before Sita’s abduction by Ravana sets the stage for a major conflict between righteousness and evil. Sunny Deol portrays Hanuman, while Ravie Dubey plays Lakshman. The supporting cast includes Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor and Kajal Aggarwal.

Ramayana: Part One is scheduled to open worldwide on Nov. 5, coinciding with the Diwali holiday period. The film will be released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, with Imax 3D among the available formats. Sony Pictures Entertainment is handling its global release, while Dharma Productions will oversee distribution in India.

Nita M. Ambani, chair of JioStar, described Ramayana as a significant part of India’s cultural heritage and highlighted the opportunity to introduce its themes to new audiences through technology. She said JioHotstar aims to make major storytelling projects accessible to families across the country while preserving the story’s enduring values of duty, love, courage and goodness.

Prime Focus Studios is producing the two-part live-action adaptation alongside DNEG, the visual effects and production company with eight Academy Awards, and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. Shridhar Raghavan adapted the screenplay from Valmiki’s epic.

Producer Namit Malhotra, who founded DNEG and serves as its chief executive, said the film was conceived for large-screen viewing, particularly in Imax 3D. However, he noted that access to cinema infrastructure remains limited for some audiences in India.

Malhotra said the partnership with JioHotstar would allow more people to experience the film at home after its theatrical release. He pointed to the platform’s established presence in sports and entertainment as a reason it was a natural partner for expanding the film’s reach.

The production also features music by Academy Award-winning composers Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman. Ravi Bansal and Ramsey Avery served as production designers, while Terry Notary and Guy Norris oversaw the action. Designed for Imax and other premium large-format presentations, the film combines Indian and international creative talent in its adaptation of one of the country’s best-known epics.