With a massive budget of Rs 835 crore, Ranbir Kapoor’s 'Ramayana' becomes the costliest Indian film

Ranbir Kapoor Pic/Instagram

Keeping fans on their toes, the much-anticipated Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayana' has been creating buzz ever since its announcement. After reports of Ranbir Kapoor's whopping fee amount made headlines, it is now being reported that the film itself is a costly project with its budget at a mammoth figure of USD 100 Million which is around Rs 835 crore, that too just for the first part, given that the magnum opus is billed to be a trilogy.

According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, "Ramayana is not just a film but an emotion and the makers are leaving no stone unturned to make it a global spectacle. Producer Namit Malhotra plans to expand this further as the franchise grows. The idea is to take the audience on a visual treat with Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram. The budget of Ramayana is close to Rs 835 crores. The film requires 600 days of post-production work, which in itself speaks volumes about the investment required to create some of the most original visuals on the spectacle. The idea is to take Indian Cinema at a global level."

Last month, pictures of Ranbir as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita leaked as they shot a sequence in Film City, Goregaon. The internet had a field day dissecting the actors' looks in the mythological drama. To avoid a similar situation in the future, we hear Tiwari has sprung into action and made changes to the schedule. Considering Ramayana is one of the most anticipated films, a premature reveal affects its novelty. Understanding this, the filmmaker is said to have rejigged the schedule to prioritise indoor shoots. A source from the set informed mid-day.com, "Going forward, Nitesh sir has decided to focus on the indoor shoots, thus minimising chances of another leak. The outdoor shoots will happen at night for the next few weeks. Also, additional private security has been hired to safeguard the set from paparazzi or fans lurking around for pictures."

Right when the first part of the trilogy rolled, the makers had exercised a no-phone policy on the set. "That rule is non-negotiable. The unit will shoot continuously till the rains hit as Nitesh sir wants to complete a chunk by June. The makers are planning to shoot an elaborate portion later this week, which could become the announcement sequence. It is expected to be unveiled in June," added the source.

'Ramayana' also stars Yash and Ravan, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, and Arun Govil as King Dasharatha.