Indian actor-producer Yash‘s Monster Mind Creations and producer Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios have partnered on an adaptation of Indian epic “Ramayana” for global audiences.
The film will be directed by Nitesh Tiwari, whose “Dangal” is the highest Indian grosser of all time. Yash is best known for the “K.G.F.” action film franchise, the second part of which is also the fourth-highest grossing Indian film of all time.
Malhotra’s most recent credit is “Fighter,” which is the highest Indian grosser of 2024 so far. Malhotra is also the global CEO of visual effects company DNEG, which has powered seven VFX Oscar winners in recent years, including “Dune: Part One” and “Tenet.”
There have been more than 60 film and TV adaptations of the mythological epic “Ramayana,” which is a classic tale of good over evil, including Indian, anime and Thai versions. Malhotra has been planning a big screen adaptation for several years and found a kindred spirit in Yash.
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Malhotra said: “After years spent living between the U.S., the U.K. and India, building a business that has achieved unparalleled commercial success and more Oscar wins in the last 10 years than any other company, my personal journey has led me to the point that I feel ready to do justice to the incredible story of ‘Ramayana,’ treating it with the due care and reverence that it deserves. My challenges from the start have been two-fold: to respect the sanctity of a tale, which is held in such high regard by all of us who grew up with it, while also bringing it to the world in such a way that this incredible story is embraced by international audiences as a compelling big screen experience. In Yash I recognise a similar aspiration to share the best of our culture with the world. Inspired by his journey from Karnataka to the
incredible international success of ‘K.G.F: Chapter 2,’ I can’t think of a better partner to help create a major global impact with this, the greatest of all our stories.”
Yash added: “It has been my long-term aspiration to make films that will showcase Indian cinema on a global level. In pursuit of that, I was in L.A. to ally with one of the best VFX studios, and to my amazement, the driving force behind it was a fellow Indian. Namit and I had various ideation sessions, and coincidentally, our synergy on the vision for Indian cinema aligned perfectly. We brainstormed various projects, and during these discussions, the subject of ‘Ramayana’ came up. Namit had a part of it in the works. The ‘Ramayana,’ as a subject, deeply resonates with me and I had an approach in my mind for it. By joining forces to co-produce ‘Ramayana’ we are bringing together our collective vision and
experience to create an Indian film that will ignite excitement and passion in audiences across the world.”
Malhotra said: “Our interpretation will be told without compromise and presented in such a way that Indian hearts will swell with pride to see their culture brought to the rest of the world in this way. We are assembling the very best global talent – from our filmmakers, to our stars, to our crews, to our backers and investors – to tell this epic story with the care, attention, and conviction that it deserves. I am incredibly proud of what we are creating, and I cannot wait for the world to experience the very best of Indian culture and storytelling on cinema screens across the globe.”
The cast and crew of “Ramayana” will be unveiled imminently.
Yash said: “’Ramayana’ is woven into the fabric of our lives. We believe we know it well, yet each encounter unveils fresh wisdom, ignites new knowledge, and offers unique perspectives. Our vision is to translate this timeless epic onto the silver screen in a grand spectacle, honoring its scale. But at its core, it will be an honest and faithful portrayal of the story, the emotions, and the enduring values we hold so dear. This is a journey to share the ‘Ramayana’ with the world, a testament to our commitment to creative exploration, bold visions and honest storytelling.”
Prime Focus Studios is also currently co-producing “Animal Friends” with Legendary Entertainment and Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort; and “The Garfield Movie,” with Alcon Entertainment and Columbia Pictures. Monster Mind Creations is currently co-producing “Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups.”
