Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi has described Ramayana — director Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming two-part mythological saga — as “India’s answer to Hollywood epics,” calling it a film that will redefine Indian cinema on the global stage. The actor, who plays Vibhishana, the younger brother of Ravana, also revealed that he will donate his entire remuneration from the film to support children battling cancer.
In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Oberoi said, “I told Namit (producer Namit Malhotra) that I don’t want a penny for this. I want to donate it to a cause I believe in: helping kids with cancer. I think Ramayana will be a landmark film for our industry. It’s India’s answer to Hollywood epics. The story, the visuals, and the intent behind it make it very special.”
Produced by Namit Malhotra of Prime Focus and directed by Dangal and Chhichhore fame Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana. The film has generated immense excitement since its announcement, with its first teaser receiving widespread praise for its breathtaking visuals and scale — a rarity in Indian cinema’s CGI-heavy productions.
According to Malhotra, Ramayana is being made on an unprecedented budget of US $500 million), making it the most expensive Indian film ever produced and one of the costliest films globally. “When we set out to make it six or seven years ago, everyone thought I was a lunatic,” Malhotra said in a conversation with Prakhar Gupta. “No Indian film, by a long distance, comes close to this scale. But I believe we’re making the largest film in the world for the greatest story ever told.”
Despite its staggering cost, Malhotra insists that the project is being handled responsibly. “We’re making a bigger film at a lower cost. The Indian in me still believes we’re not being irresponsible financially,” he said.
Ramayana is being released in two parts — the first slated for Diwali 2026 and the second a year later. The ensemble cast also features Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, with music composed by Oscar winners Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman and lyrics penned by poet Kumar Vishwas.
Touted as the most ambitious Indian cinematic undertaking ever, Ramayana aims to bring the timeless epic to life with world-class visual storytelling and emotional depth, setting a new benchmark for Indian filmmaking on the international stage.