After months of anticipation, Ramayana Part 1 has finally arrived in theatres. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the mythological epic features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. Mounted on a massive scale, the film entered cinemas with enormous expectations, strong advance bookings and the advantage of the extended Diwali holiday period.
- Ramayana Part 1 Day 1 Box Office Collection
- Ramayana Part 1 Delivers Bollywood’s Second-Biggest Opening Of 2026
- Opening Falls Short Of Expectations Despite Massive Hype
- Ramayana Part 1 Fails To Beat Adipurush’s Opening
- Extended Diwali Weekend Could Change The Game
- Can Ramayana Part 1 Beat Dhurandhar: The Revenge?
- Positive Reviews But Questions Over Emotional Connect
- More About Ramayana Part 1
- Budget, Profit And Verdict
- Final Verdict
The opening-day response has been encouraging in several markets, with the Hindi version contributing the biggest share. However, the film has not managed to match the extraordinary expectations surrounding its release. Despite its impressive scale and considerable audience interest, it has also fallen short of some major opening-day benchmarks.
The film’s first-day performance has secured it a prominent position among Bollywood releases of 2026. However, the gap between expectations and actual collections is something the makers will be hoping to address over the extended weekend.
Ramayana Part 1 Day 1 Box Office Collection
Ramayana Part 1 collected ₹64.85 crore net in India on its opening day, according to early trade estimates. The film was screened across approximately 25,200 shows in multiple languages, with the Hindi version accounting for the largest contribution.
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| Language | Day 1 Collection (India Net) | Shows |
|---|---|---|
| Hindi | ₹47.50 Crore | 20,678 |
| Kannada | ₹7.25 Crore | 1,197 |
| Telugu | ₹6.00 Crore | 1,776 |
| Tamil | ₹2.60 Crore | 992 |
| Malayalam | ₹1.50 Crore | 557 |
| Total India Net | ₹64.85 Crore | 25,200 |
| India Gross | ₹77.50 Crore | – |
The Hindi version led the collections with ₹47.50 crore from 20,678 shows. The Kannada version delivered a healthy contribution of ₹7.25 crore, while the Telugu version added ₹6 crore. The Tamil and Malayalam versions collected ₹2.60 crore and ₹1.50 crore, respectively.
The film’s total India gross collection stood at ₹77.50 crore, against its net collection of ₹64.85 crore. An estimated 25,25,775 tickets were sold on the first day, indicating substantial audience interest across markets.
Although the overall opening is impressive, the Hindi performance is below the expectations created by the film’s scale, promotional campaign and star cast. The trade had expected the Hindi version to deliver a stronger start, particularly given the enormous anticipation surrounding Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Rama.
Ramayana Part 1 Delivers Bollywood’s Second-Biggest Opening Of 2026
Despite falling short of its expected opening, Ramayana Part 1 has secured the second position among Bollywood’s biggest opening-day earners of 2026, based on the supplied India net figures across languages. Only Dhurandhar: The Revenge remains ahead.
The film has moved past Drishyam: The Conclusion, which opened with ₹62 crore, while Border 2 stands further behind with ₹32.10 crore. Mirzapur The Movie and Awarapan 2 complete the next positions in the ranking.
| Rank | Movie | Day 1 Collection |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dhurandhar: The Revenge | ₹145 Crore |
| 2 | Ramayana Part 1 | ₹64.85 Crore |
| 3 | Drishyam: The Conclusion | ₹62 Crore |
| 4 | Border 2 | ₹32.10 Crore |
| 5 | Mirzapur The Movie | ₹28.11 Crore |
| 6 | Awarapan 2 | ₹23.40 Crore |
| 7 | Welcome To The Jungle | ₹19.40 Crore |
| 8 | Bhooth Bangla | ₹18.31 Crore |
| 9 | Dhamaal 4 | ₹15.50 Crore |
| 10 | Cocktail 2 | ₹14.10 Crore |
This is a significant achievement for the Ranbir Kapoor starrer, particularly considering that its opening has come during the pre-Diwali period. However, the comparison also needs context. The figures in this ranking include the multi-language opening of Ramayana Part 1, whereas several other releases have predominantly Hindi-language openings.
Opening Falls Short Of Expectations Despite Massive Hype
The biggest talking point surrounding the film’s opening is the difference between its expected and actual performance. Considering its reported production budget of ₹2,000 crore, massive promotional campaign and multi-starrer cast, the film was expected to deliver a stronger start in Hindi.
Even keeping the pre-Diwali period in mind, expectations were that the Hindi version would collect at least ₹65–70 crore net. There were also predictions that the film could deliver an overall India net opening of ₹90–100 crore across languages.
However, the Hindi version could not even cross the ₹50 crore mark. The overall collection is higher because of contributions from the Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam markets, but the opening remains below the trade expectations.
The film’s performance is particularly surprising because its first glimpse generated enormous excitement. The scale, casting and subject created expectations of a historic opening. While the response has been positive, the first-day numbers suggest that the initial hype did not translate into the kind of box office performance many had anticipated.
Ramayana Part 1 Fails To Beat Adipurush’s Opening
| Movie | Day 1 India Net |
|---|---|
| Dhurandhar: The Revenge | ₹145 Crore* |
| Adipurush | ₹86.75 Crore |
| Jawan | ₹75 Crore |
| Ramayana Part 1 | ₹64.85 Crore |
*Dhurandhar: The Revenge figures include paid previews.
One of the more surprising aspects of the opening is that Ramayana Part 1 has failed to surpass Adipurush in first-day collections. Despite facing considerable criticism after its release, the Prabhas-starrer remains ahead with an opening of ₹86.75 crore across languages.
Released in 2023, Adipurush benefited significantly from its Telugu market, followed by its Hindi contribution. Ramayana Part 1, meanwhile, has opened below that benchmark despite the scale of its production and the anticipation surrounding its arrival.
The comparison is important because both films are large-scale mythological adaptations targeting audiences across multiple language markets. However, their opening-day performances also underline how audience expectations and initial reactions can influence theatrical numbers.
Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan had also collected ₹75 crore net on its opening day. Meanwhile, Yash’s Toxic delivered a combined opening of more than ₹100 crore across languages, although it subsequently failed to maintain its box office momentum.
At the top of the 2026 opening chart, Dhurandhar: The Revenge remains comfortably ahead with ₹145 crore across languages, including paid previews. Its worldwide opening stood at approximately ₹236.63 crore, including paid previews. The film had also recorded advance bookings worth more than ₹50 crore before paid previews were counted.
Extended Diwali Weekend Could Change The Game
The opening-day performance is only the beginning of the film’s theatrical journey. The extended weekend provides an opportunity to improve its collections, particularly if positive word of mouth continues to reach a wider audience.
The film has received decent feedback, and its visual scale has emerged as one of its major attractions. However, sustaining audience interest over the coming days will be crucial. Big-budget films cannot rely on their opening alone, especially when their production costs are as substantial as those reported for this project.
There is also a holiday-related factor to consider. Diwali falls on Sunday, and evening collections could face some impact because of Laxmi Puja celebrations. This may affect the film’s weekend trend, even if daytime shows remain encouraging.
Monday could present a different opportunity. The holiday period, positive audience feedback and increased word of mouth could help the film record a significant jump. The real test will be whether the film can maintain its momentum after the initial excitement and convert favourable feedback into repeat theatrical visits.
The performances of Adipurush and Toxic offer a reminder that a strong opening does not automatically guarantee a healthy lifetime run. Both films struggled to maintain their initial momentum, with sharp drops in collections after the first day. Ramayana Part 1 will need a more consistent trend to avoid a similar situation.
Can Ramayana Part 1 Beat Dhurandhar: The Revenge?
Surpassing Dhurandhar: The Revenge was always going to be a challenging task. The Aditya Dhar directorial has set an extraordinary benchmark with its opening-day performance and worldwide numbers. With Ramayana Part 1 starting below expectations, matching that record has become even more difficult. The film will need exceptional growth in India and a remarkable performance in overseas markets if it hopes to compete with the worldwide opening benchmark.
The overseas response will therefore be an important factor in determining its overall performance. Given the popularity of the Ramayana story among audiences across different countries, the film has considerable international appeal. However, the actual box office outcome will depend on audience response in each territory.
Positive Reviews But Questions Over Emotional Connect
Movie: Ramayana
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review: MAGNIFICENT
#RanbirKapoor shines as Lord Rama, while #Yash commands the screen as Ravana in #Ramayana 💫
#NiteshTiwari delivers a visual extravaganza packed with action and scale. 💥
#RamayanaReview
Nitesh Tiwari deserves appreciation for taking on one of the biggest challenges in Indian cinema. The film creates an extraordinary cinematic world. 🔥
The opening Airavat sequence is spectacular. Ravana’s battles against Kubera & Indra are visually stunning, while Rama’s introduction, Swayamvar & Parashurama sequence are equally impressive. The dialogues carry the essence of dharma, duty, sacrifice & righteousness.
#RanbirKapoor delivers a graceful performance as Lord Rama. He beautifully captures the calmness, dignity & compassion of the character. 🙏
#Yash is a MAJOR HIGHLIGHT. He commands the screen as Ravana with his powerful screen presence, intensity & larger-than-life personality. His portions are among the biggest attractions. 💥
#RavieDubey is a pleasant surprise as Lakshmana. He brings energy, devotion, anger & humour to the character. In some scenes, he even outshines Ranbir. 👏
#SaiPallavi looks graceful as Mata Sita, though her performance could have carried greater emotional depth. The character demands a strong emotional connection, but that doesn’t come through consistently.
#RakulPreetSingh looks gorgeous as Shurpanakha, while #LaraDutta is convincing as Kaikeyi. 👌
#ArunGovil brings warmth & dignity as Dasharatha. #VivekOberoi makes his presence felt, #KajalAggarwal brings grace as Mandodari, while #AnupamKher’s voice as Jatayu adds emotional weight. ✨
#SunnyDeol’s appearance as Lord Hanuman in the end-credit sequence is clap-worthy. 👏
The film scores high on scale, action & visual grandeur. However, at certain places, it lacks the soul, emotional depth & devotional connect that an epic like #Ramayana demands.
The VFX is breathtaking in several sequences. The BGM elevates several action sequences. 👍
#ARRahman’s songs, however, are not particularly memorable. They don’t stay with you after the film ends. The costume choices might also become a talking point among certain sections of the audience. 🤨
The 3-hour-15-minute runtime is noticeable. The editing could have been sharper in some portions to maintain momentum. The emotional connect doesn’t match the film’s visual spectacle.
My ⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating is largely for the film’s MAGNIFICENT visual grandeur, ambitious scale & spectacular action. As a cinematic magnum opus, Ramayana delivers on several fronts. 💫
However, the spiritual essence & devotional connect expected from an epic of this magnitude are not equally compelling. A stronger emotional and devotional connect could have made it truly extraordinary. 🍿🎟️
@WorldOfRamayana @TheNameIsYash @raviedubey @malhotra_namit @niteshtiwari22 @Rakulpreet @Sai_Pallavi92
— Praneet Samaiya (@praneetsamaiya) November 5, 2026The film has generated considerable discussion around its visual presentation, performances and storytelling. Its scale and ambition have been widely noticed, although the emotional depth and devotional connect remain important talking points.
Cinetales Founder and Trade Analyst Praneet Samaiya rated the film 4 stars and called it Magnificent. However, he pointed out a significant weakness in the storytelling:
“The film has scale, ambition and breathtaking visuals, yet it lacks the soul, devotion and emotional depth that could have made this epic truly special.”
Praneet Samaiya, Cinetales
This assessment captures the difference between the film’s technical ambition and its emotional impact. While the visuals offer a grand cinematic experience, the emotional connection is equally important for a story as deeply rooted in Indian culture as the Ramayana.
The coming days will reveal whether the film’s positive feedback and visual appeal are enough to bring more audiences into theatres. Its performance during the extended holiday period will be particularly important.
More About Ramayana Part 1
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana Part 1 is a mythological epic featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The film also features an ensemble cast and has been mounted on a massive production scale.
The film released worldwide on November 5, 2026, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English. It is the first instalment of a two-part adaptation, with the second part scheduled for a Diwali 2028 release.
Budget, Profit And Verdict
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Ramayana Part 1 Budget | ₹2,000 Crore (Reported) |
| Combined Budget (Both Parts) | ₹4,000 Crore (Reported) |
| India Net Collection | ₹64.85 Crore |
| Verdict | Loading… |
The reported budget of the first instalment is ₹2,000 crore, while the combined production budget of both films is estimated at ₹4,000 crore. The film has a long way to go before its theatrical performance can be assessed commercially. Its opening-day numbers provide an initial indication, but the extended weekend, weekday trend, overseas collections and eventual lifetime run will determine the final outcome. The scale of the project makes its theatrical performance particularly important for the makers.
Final Verdict
Ramayana Part 1 has secured a major opening and emerged as Bollywood’s second-biggest opener of 2026, but the first-day performance is below the enormous expectations surrounding the project. Its visual grandeur and positive audience feedback offer reasons for optimism, although the film needs stronger growth over the extended Diwali weekend. The real challenge now is to maintain momentum and deliver the kind of sustained box office run that a project of this scale demands.
Disclaimer: Box office figures mentioned in this article are subjective trade estimates compiled from various industry sources. The data is for informative purpose, and total may change as official studio data is updated or as additional international market reports are finalized.
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